“I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Psalm 16:8 NKJV
In an inspiring story titled “She Became an Elite Runner by Leaving Running Behind” published over the weekend, the writer said “Keira D’Amato retired from running at 24, but a decade later she was back and setting marathon records. A new memoir details her journey, which is still unfolding.” Ms. D’Amato, who will turn 41 in October, is something of a phenomenon. After an injury-marred stint as a professional runner following college, she left the sport behind in 2008, when she was only 23. And even when she laced up her sneakers about eight years later as a self-described “hobby jogger,” she had no illusions about her future. She just wanted to have fun.
But then something wild happened: She became one of the best marathoners in the world.
She was working as a realtor and raising two children in Richmond, Va., when, at age 37, she won the 2022 Houston Marathon in 2 hours 19 minutes 12 seconds, breaking the American record for the women’s marathon by 24 seconds. She went on to set a national record for the women’s half marathon in 2023. Ms. D’Amato details her unconventional path in “Don’t Call It a Comeback: What Happened When I Stopped Chasing PRs, and Started Chasing Happiness,” a memoir that she co-wrote with the journalist Evelyn Spence that will be released on Tuesday. In many ways, she seems more determined than ever.” Do you just love that or what?
The story went on to detail the many highs and lows of Kiera’s life that led her to say “I don’t think anyone’s path is perfect or rosy, and I don’t think I’m anything special,” she said. “But maybe I’ve figured out some special things that can help other people.”
Like Kiera and so many others, King David was also a person who experienced many highs and lows. And although David had many setbacks and pursued the things of this world for a time, he learned that the greatest thing he could ever pursue wasn’t Personal Records (PRs) to be esteemed in the eyes of the world, but a Personal Relationship with the Lord. Throughout David’s pursuit, he “figured out” a lot of things and, thankfully, wrote them down to help other people.
Perhaps the greatest lesson the life of David can teach us, though, is that if we will “set the LORD always” before us, and make the LORD our right hand (Source of our strength) we will not be moved. This was a lesson, you can be sure, David didn’t learn overnight.
In fact, in Psalm 16, David declared that “those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.” This was something David knew firsthand because he had chased after other gods! Specifically the gods of lust, pride, and deceit when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband Uriah killed to cover up his iniquity. Hence the reason David later swore that he would not participate in the worldly rituals of false gods or even speak their names, but would fully be devoted to the God of Israel.
This renewed relationship with the Lord (that came after a time of repentance) became so strong that the king of Israel declared that God alone was his portion and his cup. Furthermore, David knew that God would not only take care of him in this life, but in the one to come saying, “surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
Another great lesson we can learn from the life of David is this… God alone knows the “path of life” and will make it known to us when we seek Him through the pages of the Bible, prayer and meditation. He will not only give us the wisdom and the strength to walk on this righteous path, but will fill us with joy in the measure that we seek His presence.
So, if you want to spare yourself the troubles that come with going after the pleasures of this world, seek after God above all else my friend. Leave your old life behind and be content with the portion and cup (that fills your needs and not your greeds) God supplies so that you won’t chase after anything but a Personal Relationship with the Lord.
Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving us when we go astray and humbly seek repentance. Help us to understand that it’s never too late to run the race if we would only turn back to You and completely surrender. Help us to be content with the boundary lines you have drawn and our lot in life, Lord, that we would not seek after other gods that would only lead us into trouble. Show us the path of life Lord and help us to walk in it. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
But then something wild happened: She became one of the best marathoners in the world.
She was working as a realtor and raising two children in Richmond, Va., when, at age 37, she won the 2022 Houston Marathon in 2 hours 19 minutes 12 seconds, breaking the American record for the women’s marathon by 24 seconds. She went on to set a national record for the women’s half marathon in 2023. Ms. D’Amato details her unconventional path in “Don’t Call It a Comeback: What Happened When I Stopped Chasing PRs, and Started Chasing Happiness,” a memoir that she co-wrote with the journalist Evelyn Spence that will be released on Tuesday. In many ways, she seems more determined than ever.” Do you just love that or what?
The story went on to detail the many highs and lows of Kiera’s life that led her to say “I don’t think anyone’s path is perfect or rosy, and I don’t think I’m anything special,” she said. “But maybe I’ve figured out some special things that can help other people.”
Like Kiera and so many others, King David was also a person who experienced many highs and lows. And although David had many setbacks and pursued the things of this world for a time, he learned that the greatest thing he could ever pursue wasn’t Personal Records (PRs) to be esteemed in the eyes of the world, but a Personal Relationship with the Lord. Throughout David’s pursuit, he “figured out” a lot of things and, thankfully, wrote them down to help other people.
Perhaps the greatest lesson the life of David can teach us, though, is that if we will “set the LORD always” before us, and make the LORD our right hand (Source of our strength) we will not be moved. This was a lesson, you can be sure, David didn’t learn overnight.
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
Psalm 16:4-6
In fact, in Psalm 16, David declared that “those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.” This was something David knew firsthand because he had chased after other gods! Specifically the gods of lust, pride, and deceit when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband Uriah killed to cover up his iniquity. Hence the reason David later swore that he would not participate in the worldly rituals of false gods or even speak their names, but would fully be devoted to the God of Israel.
This renewed relationship with the Lord (that came after a time of repentance) became so strong that the king of Israel declared that God alone was his portion and his cup. Furthermore, David knew that God would not only take care of him in this life, but in the one to come saying, “surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalm. 16:11
Another great lesson we can learn from the life of David is this… God alone knows the “path of life” and will make it known to us when we seek Him through the pages of the Bible, prayer and meditation. He will not only give us the wisdom and the strength to walk on this righteous path, but will fill us with joy in the measure that we seek His presence.
So, if you want to spare yourself the troubles that come with going after the pleasures of this world, seek after God above all else my friend. Leave your old life behind and be content with the portion and cup (that fills your needs and not your greeds) God supplies so that you won’t chase after anything but a Personal Relationship with the Lord.
Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving us when we go astray and humbly seek repentance. Help us to understand that it’s never too late to run the race if we would only turn back to You and completely surrender. Help us to be content with the boundary lines you have drawn and our lot in life, Lord, that we would not seek after other gods that would only lead us into trouble. Show us the path of life Lord and help us to walk in it. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!
No comments:
Post a Comment