Day 8 – Steps Closer to God
by Lt. Betsy Clark
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24
I recently trained for a 10-mile race. Typically, I’m not a runner, so deciding to run 10 miles is quite a feat for me. In order to make sure I could run for the whole 10 miles and not fall over dead, I followed a strict training regimen. Every day of cross-training, strength-training or running was set out for me over the course of 20 weeks, meaning I basically signed up for “running for dummies.” It’d be hard for me to mess it up. But I did. It turns out that I would rather sleep in than wake up early and run three miles. And my couch and tv are very inviting after a long day at the corps. So more often than not, I skipped runs. Then, when I finally did run, it was as painful as ever and I wondered why it was so hard to complete.
Our spiritual journey can be the same. We have Scripture and the example of others to help us see God’s standard for our lives. You might say it’s our “Spiritual Journey for Dummies.” And we want it: that deep spiritual connection to God and the strength to face each day. But, when it comes down to it, we’d rather sit on the couch than follow our faith regimen. Then, when true tests of faith come, we wonder why it’s so hard for us to trust God and follow His will for our lives. If only we would realize that even the smallest steps each day help us draw nearer to God! God is not asking us to run a marathon of faith right from the start, but He is asking us to take the first step.
So what step is God asking you to take today? Get off the couch and get moving!
Thoughts to Ponder:
What does God reveal about Himself through Betsy’s experience?
What could be your first step to strengthening your faith experience?
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