214 Miles

Eleven weeks ago I could run maybe two miles without stopping. In the past eleven weeks I have run 214 miles in preparation for my first marathon. Let me tell you every one of those miles tells a story of its own. Some of those stories are fun and others are full of pain.

This past weekend I ran eighteen miles. During a long run, many things can happen both good and bad. The beginning of this long run was amazing. My legs were pumping and eating up the ground like a kid does chocolate cake. I had an amazing attitude and was laughing and talking to my running mates, but by mile twelve everything changed.

No, it didn’t happen all at once, but that is where the struggle began. My endurance was taxed, and I started to doubt if I could finish. At mile sixteen, I stopped dead in my tracks. I didn’t want to run anymore. My body was exhausted. The call to quit echoed through my mind. What on earth was I thinking? A marathon? Yeah right. Who did I think I was? Superwoman? Ever feel like that? You doubt everything you are trying to do?

I will never qualify for the Boston Marathon, but hey that isn’t my goal. My goal is to finish the race; and if I finish dead last, that doesn’t really matter in the big picture. I have found that the more I train the more I desire to learn about running and fitness. I devour everything I can find on running. This makes me think about how much time I have spent reading and studying the Word.

Have you noticed that when you are reading your Bible daily and taking time to meditate on His Word, you hunger to know more? I know that there are times when I struggle to fit God into my schedule, and it is during those times that I lose sight of what an awesome Father He is.

Memory Verse:
“How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts!”
– Psalm 92:5 (NIV)

Prayer Prompt:
“Father, thank You, for always being with me even when I lose sight of You. Please continue to mold me into the woman You desire me to be. Help me to have a desire to know You more intimately in my life and help me to focus on You especially when…”

Contributing Writer:
Donna Moore