Long distance running has always been a challenge for me. I’ve had the hardest time meeting my miles, due to lack of enthusiasm and proper planning. Running a 5k race, 10k race, half-marathon, or marathon has been an unattained goal for sometime. With proper training, I’m pretty confident that I can complete a 5k (maybe a 10k) race; however, I have yet to accomplish this goal. Every time, I hear that another co-worker completed a half or full marathon; my level of admiration towards running increases. I continue assuring myself that one day; I will sign up for a race, train, and complete my goal. I guess one day, I will. Until then, I have comforted myself with unfulfilled promises (Ecclesiastes 5:5).
Am I lazy and would hate the training? I doubt it. I love exercising. Long distance running is a different type of physical fitness than my familiar resistance and interval training workouts. However, experience and research assures me that I would be fine. I simply need to decide and start.
The decision is my dilemma. Do I really want to endure the training it takes to run a long distance event? To be successful, I would need to allot an extended amount of time away from my old way of living. This would be sacrificial and uncomfortable. When completing a long distance event becomes my most important physical fitness goal, I will be more apt to accomplish.
Those of you who have completed a 5k (or more) race may ridicule my unmet goal. Thinking to yourself, ‘Really, 3.2 miles! Come on personal trainer… Surely, you can do that!?! ‘Sometimes, I say the exact same things to myself. However, there are so many factors which I allow to hold me back (marriage, children, job, career, and other goals). After identifying all my current life involvement, it would be premature and ignorant to label me as lazy. Clearly, running a marathon is secondary… making it more difficult to achieve.
Luke 14:28 encourages us to ‘sit down and count the cost’ before we begin. ‘Choosing not to’ regarding a major life decision can be costly. Starting and not completing may lower you and others esteem, confidence, and respect. This principle applies to all facets of life from fitness, financial, to relational. Those who have experienced a broken relational promise may unanimously agree that there confidence, respect, and esteem for the involved party (including themselves) deteriorated.
Every vow has a ‘finish line’. When most set out to accomplish a goal, they envision how they will end. Typically, those who finish what they start maintain that mental snapshot until completion. It would be quite strange to witness a 100-yard dash and only 50% of the runners complete. Even weirder, if 5 out of the 10 marathoners saw another race they liked while running their race; then jumped over to the other marathon to complete that race. That would be extremely odd and strange to witness. Although, I believe this is symbolically witnessed everyday.
Determining the importance of your goal and what you will and want to achieve before you start is key. If your goal is not one of the most important factors in your life and you are unwilling to sacrifice until that commitment is fulfilled, biblical wisdom strongly suggests that you should not accept the challenge. From financing a car to marriage to losing 10 pounds, ‘count up the cost’. Take into consideration what it will take for you to meet, maintain, and sustain your goals. Of course, you may begin a journey and realize that it was tougher than you imagined. Examining your expectations versus life demands before committing will greatly increase your success.
God’s word points to the celebration of finishing the race and keeping the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). As it will take faith and determination to achieve and believe you can meet your Godly goals during those challenging days. Envision what you want before you start (Proverbs 29:18). My personal belief (from experience) is most people who are considered lazy and unfocused are not. They have simply not made that ‘department in their life’ a priority. It’s easy to do. Although, you do have an option to refocus by determining the importance of your chosen commitment or goal. If you have yet to decide, this is a good message in helping you realize the importance of accepting any type of commitment. Be sure you can afford it. Also, determine your willingness to be a good steward before you agree. Start with taking care of the current blessings (career, home, health, children, and wife/husband). Before accepting other commitments, visualize your end and believe that you can do it. Allow God to earthly and heavenly reward your obedience (Matthew 25:23).
Some challenges are harder to achieve than others. No matter your human capacity, you are unable to overcome. I have faced similar trials. My humble plea and request in sustaining, while thriving, to my commitments to God through Jesus Christ have been a saving grace. I realized that it would take more than positive thinking and accountability. Some challenges are greater than you and others. In these cases, you need something greater for sustainability. This would be the One who God has exalted above all things (Philippians 2:9). Accepting Him is a surefire way that you will achieve all God’s goals for your life. If you are struggling with a promise that God has offered all of mankind, your problem may be your unwillingness to humble yourself and acknowledging that you need help.
Examine yourself. Determine the importance of your goals and commitments. If you have accepted a commitment, accept God’s help to see it through completion. When making goals, be sure that they are godly and you are willing to do all it takes. Know what your obstacles may/will be. God’s will is not for you to be in physical debt to yourself, mental debt to your friends and family, or financial debt to a creditor. The only debt that he allows is love (Romans 13:7-8). Keep the faith and finish the race that you start. The world desperately needs to see it!
If you desire to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please click on the link below.
http://www.intouch.org/resources/all-things-are-new/content/topic/how_do_i_accept_jesus_as_my_savior_all_things
