Leaning on God: 22 Days Remaining

The run today was an "easy" 3.5 mile run - don't push yourself too much, just make the milage. I finished at 34 minutes - just under 10 minute mile pace and 3 minutes under the same distance Monday.

Two Important Thoughts (Short Version):
1. Subscribe to failure no more - Jesus has conquered it all already!
2. If you want to be an example of someone who depends on God, you have to allow yourself to enter into challenging situations where you have no one else to depend on but God.


The Rest of the Story:

PART 1:


I wanted to beat my previous time of 37 minutes. But, after 28 minutes of running I caved in to the excuses, and I was willingly accepting failure - mentally and physically - with 9 minutes left to run.  Have you ever felt all your energy leave your body the moment you say, "I can't do it"?  It's rough.

But deep down, I didn't want to fail in this little task.

"If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!" - Proverbs 24:10

I knew God could help me.

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD  will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:30-31

So I began to pray out loud, "Lord, help me. You are my strength, my foundation. Jesus, you conquered ALL things; please bring me home. You conquered death, sin, the grave - surely you can conquer this. Help me finish the race strong. I trust in You. I lean on your understanding of what's possible, not my own. Lord, help me." I'm sure some people I ran by thought I was crazy.... but He is a faithful Father.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" - Luke 11:11-13

PART 2:

I'll often think about what kind of a father I would be if Kate and I were blessed with children.  How would I teach my kids to depend on God in the tough times during their lives?  How much will they love God and Scripture?  


Chances are, at least initially - as little ones - my children will depend on God as much as they see me depending on God. They will love God as much as the see and hear me loving God. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) children cannot read their parents' thoughts.  So if you only pray in your head, how can your children ever learn how much you depend on God?


What's worse is this - if you are never in situations where you must depend on God (internally or externally), how much more unlikely is it for your kids to never see or hear you depending on God.  What example do they have for this critical lesson of God and life?


We - I - must put ourselves in places where we can't finish the race strong unless we depend and trust in God.  And then we need to verbally show our trust in Him for others to see our example. Don't believe they'll see your example through only your thoughts... they see your example through your actions. 


So start living like your life depends on God.