Running...

Let's be honest....losing baby weight is not easy and I have been ultra-sensitive about my post-baby physique for the past 4 weeks.  Funny, when I really put that in writing, considering that Sweet Petite will only be 7 weeks old tomorrow.  But I spent a year dedicated to Weight Watchers to lose 36 pounds prior to finding out we were pregnant.  And I gained all of those 36 pounds back, plus an extra 6 pounds for good measure.  See, I'm an eater...I like to eat...and pregnancy eating was great.  I didn't over-indulge, but I gave myself certain liberties that I would never dream of had I not been pregnant.  So, I like to eat, but I don't like to exercise....AT ALL!  I used to love exercising, but those were the days when I was single, lived alone and my time was my time.  I didn't have to come home from work and cook or take into consideration another person in my household.  


I started back on Weight Watchers two weeks ago and I still have 22 pounds post-baby weight to lose.  My main goal is not the number on the scale...I just need to fit back into my work clothes before I go back to the office because I refuse to go out and buy new clothes that fit AND I got rid of all my old clothes when I lost weight before...


But let me get to the point....my devotion today came from Hebrews 12:1...


"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us"  

My devotion went on to say that we read this verse and easily pick up on the fact that we need to rid ourselves of the sin that surrounds our lives, but we don't pay much attention to the things that hinder us.  For me, I have always been weighed down by self-image and weight issues.  I mean, for as long as I can remember, I have been on a diet.  Allow me to veer off track for a moment...back in the 5th grade a boy, who will remain nameless, refused to go to the Sadie Hawkins dance with me because "I was too fat."  His words, not mine.  Thus started a process of dieting that has followed me my entire life.    But my devotion revealed to me this morning that dieting is one of the things that hinders me...my focus on dieting takes away focus from my relationship with Jesus.  Don't get me wrong...dieting is not wrong,  but I don't need to be so focused on it that it takes away from my time spent with Jesus.


And what about exercising?  You see, whether I like it or not, I'm exercising everyday because I entered a race a long time ago....a race that ends in Heaven.  But this race is more like a marathon, not a race.  I've never participated in a marathon, but I know that it takes a certain level of training.  As a Christ follower, I must train for this marathon.  I must be in tip-top shape.  I must heed the advice of my Trainer and follow His instructions in order to cross the finish line.

For those of you that know me, this will not come as a surprise, but I am not a competitive person by nature. Sure, I like to win and I like to be right.  But to avoid confrontation or hurting a person's feelings, I will graciously bow out of a competition any day of the week.  Satan would love for me to take that approach with the most important race of all----but I REFUSE!  This is one confrontation that I will not back down from.  I run this race to win the prize.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run ,but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize."  I Corinthians 9:24

Here is the glorious truth in this scripture...we ALL win the prize if we enter the race!  Isn't that amazing?  And comforting?  Doesn't it make it worth entering the race and running our fannies off?

Sure, there will be days when I need to take a breather and sit down and rest for a while.  But I pray that I can take that rest in my Savior's arms, as He trains me to get back on my feet and press onward and upward.  I want to enter the Pearly Gates and say with a big smile on my face, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

There is a song that says we are a chosen generation.  We must rise up and live for God.  He has called us out of the darkness and into His light.  Let us run with passion for Him.  In case you aren't familiar with the song , here it is....
 

So, while I may not be a runner in this earthly life, you better believe that I am running towards Jesus each and every moment of each and every day.  Some days I feel really out of shape and other days I feel like I have been training for this race my entire life...but no matter how I feel about my condition, I strive to live out Philippians 3:14..."I am pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  

Let's dust off our running shoes, do a little stretching, and get back in the race with all of  our hearts, minds and souls. After all, each of us has the grand prize waiting for us at the finish line!