The Ability to Run is a Gift from God.
Just like all gifts from God, running should not be taken for granted.
Just like all gifts from God, running should not be taken for granted.
I only recently became interested in running (started enjoying running last year when I came to WSU). Previously, I used to make excuses not to run. These excuses ranged anywhere from: “Its hard”, “I can’t run fast or far”, or the simple, yet all too commonly said phrase, “I can’t.” Well, once I put effort into trying to run, I found out that all of my past excuses were disproven, because: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” ~Philippians 4:13
Last October, I ran a 5K for the first time in my life. Tomorrow, I am running that same 5K again, making this my 2nd 5K. God gave me a gift of two legs that work. He gave me two legs so that I may use them to the best of my ability, in anything that I do. He gave me the gift of the capacity to live a physically active lifestyle, and He blessed me with the willpower to do so. It is my goal to run farther races soon: I'd like to do a 10K, and afterwards, would like to run farther races than that. :) My strength in God can take me far! Jesus said (Matthew 17:20), "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, remove from here to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Last October, I ran a 5K for the first time in my life. Tomorrow, I am running that same 5K again, making this my 2nd 5K. God gave me a gift of two legs that work. He gave me two legs so that I may use them to the best of my ability, in anything that I do. He gave me the gift of the capacity to live a physically active lifestyle, and He blessed me with the willpower to do so. It is my goal to run farther races soon: I'd like to do a 10K, and afterwards, would like to run farther races than that. :) My strength in God can take me far! Jesus said (Matthew 17:20), "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, remove from here to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
video: "My Redeemer Lives - A true Ironman story (Team Dick and Rick Hoyt)
This video inspires me to run: it inspired me in my first 5K, it inspires me for tomorrow’s 5K, and it inspires me every time I run. Actually, I see the Hoyt story as an inspiration anytime I do anything physically active at all. Through the story of Rick and Dan Hoyt, I see how very blessed I am. God has given me the ability to use both my legs and arms, I can speak, and so much more that Dan Hoyt is not able to do. I can do so many things that Dan Hoyt can only desire to do. When I watch this video, I realize that I need to be careful not to take for granted any of the ways that God has blessed me. I know that there are times when I have taken my gifts from God for granted, in fact, I probably take things for granted every day—I try not to, but it still happens. This may be because I don’t know the full worth of God’s love for me. I know that God loves me very much, but just as God’s love is insurmountable, it is also immeasurable. I think it is impossible to fully comprehend how much He loves me. As I grow in my faith, my concept of God’s love strengthens.
In Ephesians 3: 17b-19, Paul says, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
This video inspires me to run: it inspired me in my first 5K, it inspires me for tomorrow’s 5K, and it inspires me every time I run. Actually, I see the Hoyt story as an inspiration anytime I do anything physically active at all. Through the story of Rick and Dan Hoyt, I see how very blessed I am. God has given me the ability to use both my legs and arms, I can speak, and so much more that Dan Hoyt is not able to do. I can do so many things that Dan Hoyt can only desire to do. When I watch this video, I realize that I need to be careful not to take for granted any of the ways that God has blessed me. I know that there are times when I have taken my gifts from God for granted, in fact, I probably take things for granted every day—I try not to, but it still happens. This may be because I don’t know the full worth of God’s love for me. I know that God loves me very much, but just as God’s love is insurmountable, it is also immeasurable. I think it is impossible to fully comprehend how much He loves me. As I grow in my faith, my concept of God’s love strengthens.
In Ephesians 3: 17b-19, Paul says, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
God gave each individual person his or her own unique gifts, talents and abilities. We must use these gifts well, for together, we all comprise Christ’s body:
“Now you are the body of Christ…” ~1 Corinthians 12: 27
“…God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.” ~1 Corinthians 12:18
“…there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” ~1 Corinthians 12: 25-26
When we notice others who are less fortunate than us, no matter if it is just one aspect of their life, such as doing poorly in school, or if it they are struggling in something that encompasses and creates problems in other areas of their life (poverty, divorce, job loss, etc) we suffer with them.
We must reach out to help all people, both those we see struggling and those who keep their struggles hidden:
We must reach out to help all people, both those we see struggling and those who keep their struggles hidden:
~Romans 12: 6-8 says, “God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well…If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.”
~In Acts 20:35 Luke says, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
There are so many gifts that God has given me. It is my goal to not take any of these gifts for granted. I hope that every day I will see the full value of how blessed I am. I strive to thank God everyday for all that I hold important: everyone and everything in my life are gifts from God. When I think of this quote: “What if you woke up today with only the things you’d thanked God for yesterday?” I realize that I should graciously express my appreciation for God every day of my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment