I have never been a runner, and I do not plan on becoming one. However, I guess you could say jogging is a habit I am trying to develop post quarantine. Trust me, this is just as shocking to me, as it probably is to you if you know me well. A couple of weeks ago, I decided I would try the occasional jog as a way to be outside more and release some stress. You know what? It has actually worked! I believe the success I have experienced so far in this venture has less to do with the physical aspect of exercise, although it definitely has its contributions, and more to do with what I am choosing to do while I jog. While my feet repeatedly hit the pavement and my breath becomes more strained, I have chosen to worship and pray.
This is not a new idea or even my idea. Several people have told me that they often pray while they run. I always thought this was wonderful for them, but that I could pray just as well in the comforts of my own home. The beautiful thing is I can; I can pray anywhere! Any moment at any location is an opportunity to enter into the presence of God and talk to the Father! In an effort to grow both my prayer and physical health, I decided to give this time and place a go. What I have learned in this short period of time is that without prayer running would not be possible for me. It is the pattern of prayer that enables my feet to keep going. Prayer and worship take my mind off of my insufficiencies, exhaustion, and physical limitations, and redirect my thoughts to God.
I am not saying that we should all lace up our tennis shoes and go for a run right now to experience this. Again, I have only been at this for a couple of weeks, so I am in the middle myself. What I am attempting to convey is our prayer life and communication with our Lord and Savior enables us to run our race. At the end of Paul’s last letter, he says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Our journey with Christ is a race, not because we are trying to beat one another to the finish line, but because it takes faith, endurance, and discipline. Our lifeline and lasting energy supply is sourced through our relationship with God. He never leaves us or forsakes us, and through our High Priest, Jesus, we are always welcome to directly talk with God. It is our focus on the Father that will keep our minds at peace when the world is falling apart around us. He alone can enable us to go beyond our physical limitations. Our God has also generously and graciously given us fellow brothers and sisters to run this race beside.
“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.”
As we run our race, we are surrounded by the great biblical figures of faith. We belong to the spiritual family line of people like Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rahab, and David. They are cheering us on in the heavenlies to encourage us to keep going! Jesus, providing a perfect example of endurance and faith, withstood the grueling hardship of the cross for the joy that is found as we join this family. Within our communities and churches today, we are running our races together. May we look around, see one another, and press each other towards the goal of eternity. Day in and day out, let us continue to look and listen to the Father, talking boldly with Him, as we depend on Him. In this reliance, our joy, determination, and ability will be found.
“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”