This is the time of year when many of us are embarking on a journey toward a healthier lifestyle. For some folks, this means including a running regimen in their exercise plan.
The following post is one that I wrote in the Fall of 2004 about the ‘running regiment’ in our spiritual lifestyle. It is still a relevant message. If you are currently going through a season where you feel unsure about whether you can push through, fall back, regroup, or give up, there is a word of encouragement for you.
I am not a runner, but I have had the opportunity to learn a bit about runners, specifically marathon runners.
One aspect of the marathon that I’ve learned about is more of a ‘crisis’ stage called “hitting the wall.” It is the point where the runner seemingly runs out of steam – his legs get heavy, his muscles turn to rubber, and he is dehydrated.
Understand that the ‘wall’ is not made of building materials that you can see and touch. This is a psychological and physiological barrier that usually inserts itself at certain distance markers. For example, if the runner is running a 26-mile marathon – at mile 22, he might begin to feel a bit of a drag. He was on pace and accomplishing the time and distance goals, and suddenly, he started to slow down and seemed unable to take another step. The runner hit the wall. This condition might be brought on by improper training and conditioning, poor diet, and not enough liquid replenishment for the body.
A couple of things could happen: (a) The runner might try to push through and continue at his normal pace; (b) He might slow down and fall back into the pack; (c) He might drop out all together.
Experienced runners offer the following tips:
- You don’t know precisely where the wall will be – train to run farther than you will have to run.
- Prepare yourself for the race – fortify your diet with carbohydrates – drink plenty of fluids.
- Pace yourself and stick to your race.
- Don’t give up.
As a Christian, you begin the race of faith – ‘committed to being faithful and on fire for the Lord’ – only to discover along the way that you have run out of steam.
Somewhere along the way, you begin to drag a little; you start to fall back into the pack of disinterest and demonstrate a lack of endurance. Sometimes, you drop out altogether. You gradually fall behind in church attendance, personal quiet time, and prayer time. You ‘busy out’ time with the Lord and gradually are comfortable without seeking that one-to-one fellowship.
You have hit the wall. This wall develops out of an inconsistent prayer life, little or no study of the Word, and even less true worship and fellowship with the Lord.
As a Christian, you must also prepare yourself for the spiritual race.
The apostle Paul, an experienced spiritual marathon runner and servant of the Lord, offers some guidance on preparing for, running, and finishing a faithful race – and how to overcome ‘hitting the wall.’
- Fortify your spiritual diet with the Word of God. In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul encourages the Christian runner to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
Correctly handling the Word means rightly interpreting what it says and then faithfully applying it to your life.
- Pace Yourself – Seeking to be faithful and on fire for the Lord means that we must yield ourselves to the ministering of the Holy Spirit. Paul admonishes us in Galatians 5:25, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Keeping in step with the Spirit has the idea of moving stride for stride with the Spirit. Not running ahead of the spirit – because you might run into some unexpected walls, for example:
- A wall of disunity – when things begin not to go your way.
- A wall of confusion – when you become unclear of the direction you are going or the path you will take.
- A wall of discontent – when you begin to seek your own solution and not the Lord’s.
Be careful of the walls!
You also don’t want to fall behind the Spirit because you might lose sight of the goal. Do you know what the goal is, right? Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:12, “… I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
- Replenish yourself often in the Word of God – Running the Christian marathon is hard work. From time to time you get weary. It is important to replenish yourself spiritually as often as you have the opportunity. In I Peter 2:2, we read, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
The longer you run the more complex your spiritual nutrition needs become. Your study of Word must become more consistent; your understanding of the Word must become deeper; and your application of God’s word to your life must become clearer, more direct and without hesitation. Hebrews 6:1 tells us, “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings (that is, the teachings you understood when you were newly saved) about Christ and go on to maturity.”
- You don’t know exactly where the walls will show up – trust God. More than once during your race, you will get into unknown territory. You will run farther than you have trained to run. And you will experience sluggishness in your race. Recognize this as potential “wall” territory. Continue to walk in the Spirit and trust The Lord to bring you through. Philippians 1:6 assures us that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I Corinthians 1:8-9 also reminds us that “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
- Finally, don’t give up – remember the race is long. It requires endurance, commitment, and godly behavior. Your race is a testimony of the measure of faith you demonstrate. Add to your spiritual diet Philippians 1:27, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
You can overcome the “walls” in your spiritual race:
- Prepare for the race – improve your spiritual diet
- Pace yourself – walk in the Spirit
- Replenish yourself often
- Trust God
- Don’t give up
The King is coming! Get ready and stay on pace.