Lessons Learned on the Road - Don't Run to Train...Run to Know


Today is the final edition of Lessons Learned on the Road. Today's guest is the ultimate finish line banquet - Mary DeMuth. After you drink in the refreshment of her wisdom today, you should hop over next Monday to your favorite retailer to buy her newest book, Everything. Everything is a an invitation to let go of the try-harder Christian life and to truly experience the richness of life that comes when we make Jesus our Everything. Watch the book trailer now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eVfl-L6xv4 & don't forget to order her book next week!
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So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 
1 Corinthians 10:41, NLT

On my run a few weeks ago, training for a half marathon using this plan, the Lord spoke so plainly, I wondered if He ran nearby. He said, "Don't run to train, run to know."
I felt near elation in the mention because, of course, He was right (again).

I should not jog to train for this half marathon. I should hit the road because it's a perfect time for me to reacquaint myself with the Almighty.

You can also substitute a few words and personalize it for you.

How about:
  • Don't work to get ahead, as you work, discover Jesus.
  • Don't create art to produce something, create to grow closer to the Creator.
  • Don't sing to impress, sing to understand your heart before Jesus.
  • Don't check off your to do list to feel satisfaction, check it off while thanking Jesus for the ability to do so.
We can turn everything around in our hearts and minds when we refocus on Jesus. Then life becomes a surprising adventure, full of hushed discoveries of our amazing God.

When I run, I hear God.

When I jog through my neighborhood park, ideas pop into my head that I hadn't had before. It's like a laboratory for ideas, and often those ideas come from Jesus. While it is super fun to get in shape and accomplish a goal, inevitably, it's even more fun to feel like I've communed with Jesus during all that sweat and gore (if you watched me run, you'd understand this; and perhaps "run" isn't the right word.)

So whatever you do today, don't just do it to do it. Do it for the glory of God, to know Him, to find Him, to be near Him.

What activity do you do today where you could refocus on Jesus?

11 comments:

  1. Thank you! I have just recently felt led again to not only walk but to try jogging/running and work towards a 5k or more. Fear overcame me and I didn't want to but I started by faith...your story is encouraging and a good reason to run, time with Him <3

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  2. What a great post Shannon! You had asked me in your comments on my blog what my go to is for when I suffer from writers block! When I'm stuck I always pray about it and ask the Lord to give me a word from the heart.

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  3. What a great post Shannon! You had asked me in your comments on my blog what my go to is for when I suffer from writers block! When I'm stuck I always pray about it and ask the Lord to give me a word from the heart.

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  4. You're so original. But ... new ideas do not come to me when I'm busy. I do not like running. When I bike (Dutch people cycling often) I feel I am refreshed. I am an author and the best ideas develop in my head while I am ironing clothes and while I am knitting a scarf with knittingneedles number 10 :-)

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    1. Jedidja, I'm the same. When I'm quiet I hear from God. That's one of the many reasons I love running!

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  5. I'm always in so much pain running, that nothing comes to me then;) Ha! I tend to get my ideas while sewing!

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    1. :) That's fantastic. Wish I were a good seamstress!

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  6. I am a runner too and I look forward to that time as I often pray and get ideas and a grasp on how to deal with certain issues I'm dealing with. So often (especially when I run solo) God is my running partner.

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