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Training for the Race

 Happy Saturday again, man, the older I get, the faster these weeks go. Here we are again. This last week has been a crazy one and this next week is going to be too, two totally different things though. I am in the middle of trying to move to a different office so my normally very organized, clean office is barely walkable, then I spent Tuesday in a training, Wednesday presenting a training and Thursday playing catch-up and be ready to be out of the office for a week both. Yesterday was officially a day off to get organized for my trip, but I wound up working a lot of it anyway. So, today, we are off on our monthly family day but making it an early enough day to get home to finish packing. I ordered a new suit for my Capitol Hill meetings, it was supposed to be here Wednesday, then yesterday and it still isn't here. Anyway, just add a little stress in there. I also started officially training for a new 5K this week Getting started back to training reminded me that we are all in training for God's race too, so that is where I chose to go today.

We are going to look at 1 Timothy 4:7-8

7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.


Highlight= Train yourself to be godly. Explain= This morning, I officially registered for my next 5K, April 4th is race day. The registration made it real, no more "I might". No more "I will think about it" It's on the calendar. And because it's real, training has started. That means showing up when I don't feel like it, running when it is inconvenient, building endurance gradually and trusting the process. Paul uses this same language for ministry. He doesn't say drift into godliness, he says TRAIN. Just like I can't wake up on April 4 and magically be ready for a 5K, we can't expect to be spiritually strong without consistent training. Ministry isn't fueled by inspiration alone, it's built by discipline. Prayer is training, scripture is training, serving when it is hard is training and persevering when your tired is training. Apply= This week as I've started running again, I've been asking myself where I am training with consistency and where am I coasting? Am I building endurance with in my faith? Strengthening spiritual muscles? Preparing for what God has ahead? Race day doesn't create fitness, it reveals it. Training for a 5K reminds me that small, consistent effort builds capacity over time, physically and spiritually.  Respond= Lord, As I train my body for this race, help me keep training my heart for your ministry. Build endurance in me, not just for miles, but for calling. Help me show up consistently, even when it's hard. Prepare me for what You have ahead. Amen.

I also love the last of this passage that talks about "holding promise for both the present life and the life to come". No matter what is going on here, we have a future that is so bright I can't even imagine it. If you know what I am talking about, take a second to thank God for that eternal life, if you don't, PM me, we need to talk. :-).



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