Fix your thoughts

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" Isaiah 26:3 NLT

In an article published by Runner's World recently, researchers at the University of Liverpool in the U.K. determined that it only took 14 days of inactivity for a runner's overall fitness level to begin dropping. What's more, the study determined that a runner's metabolic health declined as well by the inactivity with an increase in total body and liver fat along with an increased insulin resistance which raised the risk of diabetes. That's pretty depressing news isn't it? Thankfully though, research concluded that within 14 days of resuming exercise, the same amount of time the athletes refrained from it, their fitness levels were restored. 

And while it's quite obvious that taking time off from exercising has negative effects on our bodies, taking time off from regular Bible study has negative effects as well. Effects that might not seem quite as obvious at first but eventually manifest in the form of moodiness, anxiety, apprehension, agitation and even fear. You see, in a world that is becoming increasingly tumultuous, staying "in perfect peace" is impossible for anyone "whose thoughts" are not fixed on God. And when we aren't filled with the "perfect peace" only God can offer, the things of this world can cause us to worry, fret and even lose sleep, all of which are detrimental to our health. 

So if want "perfect peace" in the midst of this troubled world, spend time in the Word each day my friend. Then meditate on God's promises throughout the day so your thoughts and trust will stay "fixed" on Him. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that when we take our thoughts off of you, even for a moment, we can be overwhelmed with anxious thoughts because of the things happening around us. Help us to stay focused on You, immersed in the Word daily, that we might stay in perfect peace. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Fix my Eyes - For King & Country 

Heaven is a real place

"In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" John 14:2 ESV

On February 3, two teens were killed and four others injured when they were struck by a car while on a practice run as part of the Cross Country team at Moore High School in Moore, Oklahoma. Rachel Freeman, a high school senior, died at the scene while the other student died at the hospital. Opening up about the day that changed so many lives forever, Rachel's mother, Jody, told reporters that she was in the car with her son when she heard the sirens and raced to the scene. When she arrived, she said she didn't need to be told what happened. "One of Rachel's coaches gave me a hug, and I could tell by the look on their faces," Jody said, "I knew that my daughter was in Heaven."

And you know, as a parent myself, I can't imagine anything more tragic than losing a child. Except losing a child without having the comfort of knowing my child was in Heaven - a place that is without a doubt real where you and I will be reunited with our loved ones. And we can be confident of this because Jesus told us so when He said, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" Did you get that my friend? Jesus, Himself, is preparing a real place for you, for me and for every other person that has placed their trust in Him as Lord and Savior. 

So I ask you this today... if you were to die at this very moment, do you know where you would spend eternity? Do you know where your children would spend eternity? If not, I earnestly hope you will place your trust in the One who longs to prepare a place for you and that you would urge your children to do the same. It's only then that you can have perfect peace in the midst of any tragedy.. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise that You are preparing a place for every believer in Heaven. Help us to understand how fleeting and uncertain life is Lord that we would not waste any opportunity to tell others about Heaven that they might also spend eternity with You. It's in Your precious Name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Prepared a place for me - Sovereign Grace Music

 

Choose pure over processed

"Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!" Proverbs 25:16 NLT

According to a recent review published in the journal Medical Hypotheses, consuming large amounts of added sugars are already associated with adverse health consequences, such as increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, prompting insulin resistance and disrupting hormones. The study went on to say that sugar affects more than just the physical body in negative ways, it also affects our moods. “The average American eats about 22 teaspoons worth of added sugars each day,” Stephen Ilardi, Ph.D, said. “Consuming refined sugar in high doses like that can increase a person’s risk of becoming clinically depressed. That’s the takeaway message here.”

And you know, although many people wouldn't think to look to the Bible for a diet plan, it's exactly the place everyone should be looking. You see, just as the writer of Proverbs warned us that eating too much sweet stuff will make us sick as science has clearly proven, the Bible tells us that God gave us plants and fruits for food. Plants and fruits that are to be eaten in their natural state rather than processed to have a long shelf-life or modified to overwhelm our senses and give us unnatural cravings. 

So in all things let us look to the Bible for guidance my friend. And then let us remember that our bodies are not our own and that we have a responsibility to care for them wisely. Doing so will not only glorify our Creator but make us feel better and allow us to serve to the best of our ability for years to come. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder of how toxic a processed diet loaded with sugar is to both our bodies and our minds. Cause us to remember Lord that we are Your servants and can only serve as we are called when we are healthy. Give us the willpower to discipline ourselves to make healthy choices that we might glorify You with our bodies and our lives. 

Happy Running!!!

I give myself away

When plans do not go as planned

'"I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2 NIV

Yesterday morning EveningStandard announced that famed Olympic runner Mo Farah would not be running the Vitality Big Half next month as he had planned. It seems this Londoner, who had hoped to get his 2020 ambitions under way, will be sitting this race out due to an unforeseen Achilles complaint. “ I was really looking forward to racing the Vitality Big Half again," said Farah. "Everyone knows how much I love racing in London but my priority is to be fit, healthy and competitive for the summer season and, for that reason, I have had to make the tough decision not to race this year. I definitely hope to be back again in 2021."

And you know, the funny thing about making plans is you and I can make all of them we want but we really aren't in control of any of them. Consider Job. Here was a man who seemingly had it all - a nice home, a loving family, and a promising future - and no doubt planned on continuing on in this nice peaceful life as a father, husband and friend until the day he went home to be with his Creator. But as Scripture tells us, Job’s plans were abruptly and completely changed in an instant when everything he had was taken. But through it all, Job said, "I know you can do all things,” acknowledging that God could change his situation at any time but would allow His purpose to be unthwarted, or fulfilled, instead - a purpose that Job trusted would ultimately be for his good and for God's glory.

Perhaps your life isn't going as planned right now? Maybe it's even been turned completely upside down? If that’s you today my friend, remember this... life happens. Plans change. But God is always there working all things for your good and for His glory. Trust Him.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for being a God who can be trusted. You have proven over and over again that all things work for the good of those who love You and have chosen to take up their cross to follow You. Through every change of plans, cause us to remember this that we would look to You and say,”Lord I may not understand my situation right now but I will trust You.” It’s in Your precious Name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

Trust in You - Lauren Daigle

Friends make all the difference

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." Hebrews 10:25 NLT

Iain Mickle ran his first sub-three-hour marathon (which was also his first marathon) in 1977 at the age of 17 and his most recent sub-three-hour marathon just three days after turning 59. In doing so, Iain set a world record for the longest elapsed time, 42 years, between sub-three hour finishes.Mickle admits that while consistency is important, his real secret to athletic success is simple: friendship. He trains with a regular running group that meets multiple times a week to “suffer” together. “I really enjoy my long runs and hard workouts because of the group of people I’m running with every day,” Mickle says. “It’s so important to have supportive people to run with. You need people to share goals with and be competitive with. It’s what keeps me going.”

And you know, as a member of a running group myself, I couldn't agree more with Iain. Having a group of people supporting and encouraging us to keep going will most definitely motivate our resolve to keep lacing up our shoes day after day. Much in the same way, we as Christians, motivate one another to keep pressing on when we regularly fellowship with one another. In fact, this is the exact reason Paul urged believers not to neglect "meeting together, as some people do," but to gather together often so they could "encourage one another" to keep running the race. 

So if you aren't a part of an encouraging group of believers, I would highly advise you to seek one out and become an active member my friend. You'll be surprised at how meeting with fellow followers regularly will not only motivate you to stay in the race but inspire you to make it all the way to the finish line. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that meeting regularly with other believers is the key to the long-term success of our walk with You. Help us to no only seek encouragement from a group of believers but to be an encourager as well. Help us to be one another's cheerleaders in life's race to the finish line. It's in Your precious Name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Cheer you on - Jordan Feliz

Never ever ever ever give up

“We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:9 NLT

“Patrick this wasn’t your kind of game in the first half... “ said Terry Bradshaw while interviewing Patrick Mahomes after Sunday’s Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs. “I’m just glad our guys kept fighting and we found a way to get in the end,” Mahomes responded. Terry went on to point out how the Chiefs had a habit of coming up from behind. “This is just an unusual way to win football games. Two playoff games you had to come from behind twice, once at 10 points and once at 24 points against Houston. Now tonight down 20 to 10, you turned it on in the fourth quarter. What is it about you and this team that allows you to do that?” Bradshaw asked. And I love what Patrick said next, “We never give up... They have a mindset that they will never give up and they will fight to the end.”

And you know, this mindset of never giving up and fighting to the end is the same mindset every believer must have if they are to wholeheartedly, unabashedly, courageously and zealously serve Christ as He has called us to serve. You see, when you and I choose to follow Jesus, we will always face opposition from the world around us and from forces unseen in the supernatural realm. But it’s then, each and every time that “we get knocked down” by that opposition, we must get back up and fight - remembering that “we are not destroyed” and never “abandoned by God.” In fact, we would do well to remember that God is not only with us but fighting in the battle beside us.

So whatever you do my friend, never ever ever give up. Keep pressing on to fulfill the calling God has placed on your life. You will not only find victory through the power of Jesus Christ when you do so but will inspire those around you to do the same.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that the Christian life is not always an easy one and that we will face many trials and tribulations in our race to the finish line. Keep reminding us that You are always beside us so that we would determine within ourselves to never give up no matter how hopeless a situation may appear. It’s in Your precious Name we pray Jesus. Amen

Happy Running!!!!

Never give up - Illuminate

Run from temptation

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

Knowing in advance that I'd probably eat a little more than usual due to the abundance of finger foods that would line our kitchen counter for the viewing of the Super Bowl yesterday, I added in a walk after church in addition to my early morning run. But as I was preparing the buffalo chicken dip my daughter had requested, I knew I was in trouble from the first sample. "Just one little bite," I thought to myself as I tested it out. But when I found myself going back multiple times saying, "Okay, this is the last bite," without it truly being the late bite, I knew I needed to distance myself from the addictive appetizer and so laced up my shoes and went out for another walk. 

And you know, when it comes to temptations, the Bible is clear that everyone will experience them in life. But thankfully, the Bible also tells us that "God is faithful" and "will not allow the temptation to be more than" you and I "can stand." Which means anytime we are tempted - whether it be by food or the desire to sin - God will always give us "a way out" so that we can withstand the urge to do something we know we shouldn't do and walk away. 

So knowing that God always provides the strength to endure any and every inclination to sin, let us look for the "way out" He promised to provide any time we experience these unholy urges. And then let us run as quickly as we can away from that thing, person or situation enticing us to stray from God's good and perfect will, determined to never look back.  

Heavenly Father, thank You for always giving us a way out when wrong desires entice us to stray from what we know is right. Help us to realize that we don't have to rely on our own willpower to overcome addictions and temptations but can look to You to provide the power we need to run to safety. It's in Your precious Name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Long black train - Josh Turner