"Good Morning, God"

This week's morning run

From the time I was nine years old, I was very involved in sports. Though some wouldn’t say it’s much of a sport, I would welcome a debate that gymnastic is one of the most grueling sports ever. In fact, we used to take pride that it was the most dangerous non-contact sport. I don’t say that to detour parents from putting their kids in gymnastics, but I say it because I hate it when people say “that’s a girl’s’ sport.”

Right before I stopped training at 16 years old, I was in the gym six days a week for five to six hours a day. Then I traded in my unrealistic desire to be in the Olympics for a much needed social life. A week after I stopped training I was coaching. I continued to coach for seven more years; 14 years in that gym, training myself, then training others.

When I trained, I loved the feeling of falling into bed because my body was so worn out, every muscle hurt. Day after day I continued to go back to the gym and train my body in order to do dangerous tricks; the goal, to hopefully win a prize.

Being out of the gym, my body longed to be trained, my muscles to be challenged, and then worn out.

About a year and a half ago the Lord began to work on my heart in the area of discipline. I was slacking off and my mind, body and spirit knew it. The Lord challenged me to gain self-discipline physically, spiritually and morally. I began to see the effects, of nearing 30, was having on my body, my time with the Lord was waning and I was allowing immoral thoughts to dwell in my mind much too long. It was hard for me to admit that I was no longer disciplined, but that I was growing comfortable and quite honestly, lazy.

Paul says in 1 Cor 9:27…

“I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

A year and a half ago I took these three areas of my life seriously and began to discipline my body. I began pursuing the Lord, not out of obligation, but because I desired it. I began running three days a week and I began a journey of moral purity. The results, greater love for my Father, increased self confidence, energy and health and greater success in overcoming the lusts that so easily entrapped me.

A year and a half later, I’m still disciplining my body, still pressing on.

Almost as much as my relationship with my Father, I enjoy my morning runs on the African dirt with the fresh morning air filling my lungs. I start out before the sun is up, only passing a few people on the road. The best part of my run is when I’m nearing the end and the sun begins to creep over the hills. My strength is renews and I remember why I got out of bed so darn early to do something that I really don’t like that much. I’m reminded of the feeling I have when I’ve run that race and finished with my head held high.

As that sun crests, it’s as if the Lord is giving me a special gift and saying “Good morning son.” All the stressful thoughts of the day to come melts away and I’m reminded of my Father’s love for me. I answer back…

“Good morning God.”

Also from this week, I love African sunrises! 

The daily walk I call “my life,” is not very easy. It’s hard to do the right thing, hard to keep focused on the Lord’s will. In the past weeks, Paul’s words have been encouraging me so much. I love the truth of disciplining my body so that I’m not disqualified.

I think back to my days training as a gymnast, having that goal in mind. I learned self discipline during that time of my life and though I’m not training now in a sport, I’m training in life, training so that I can run the race and gain the prize.