Don't try then.
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 3:31PM In November, I was in Orlando helping Z88.3 with their fall fund-raiser. While there, I went to church with my precious friend Melony McKaye Olson. A guest pastor from Chicago was speaking and he had a chin-up bar on the stage.
It was funny as he asked the pastor of the church to come on stage and do chin-ups, then he asked a muscle-bound dude to come up and do chin-ups. Public exercise humiliation - just a typical worship service:)
As I recall, the pastor eked out 5 chin-ups. And then the muscle-bound dude easily did 27.
When the whole sermon was over, I walked away with this: Start training. Start training because sooner or later, you're going to need to be ready.
The message impacted my thoughts so much that I've spent hours mulling it over.
Do I often just try to make it through tough times that could have been so much easier if only I had been in shape spiritually, emotionally, or physically?
What if I had to run 10 miles today? Well, I could try. But it's HIGHLY unlikely that I could do it.
What mountain waits in my future path? Will I climb gracefully or will I lean against a tree, desperately panting?
I've thought deeper and deeper on this idea of training - so much so, that "train" is my one word for 2012.
Heart's desire confession: I've always wanted to do a triathlon. But, alas, I don't really run, bike, or swim. lol
Today - this very day - I swam farther than I ever have in my life. I free-styled 50 meters without stopping! Now granted, I'll need to be able to swim 750 meters without stopping, but I'm embracing with great joy the moment of today - I'm training! :) The sprint triathlon I hope to complete isn't until August 5th.
Over 5 months of training.
All this begs the pondering: Are we ready for what's next?
For the literal or figurative mountain that will fill your future path...
Don't try then.
Train now.
Genesis 14:14
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
Genesis 14:13-15 (in Context) Genesis 14 (Whole Chapter)
2 Samuel 22:35
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
2 Samuel 22:34-36 (in Context) 2 Samuel 22 (Whole Chapter)
1 Chronicles 5:18
The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service—able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle.
1 Chronicles 5:17-19 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 5 (Whole Chapter)
1 Chronicles 25:7
Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD—they numbered 288.
1 Chronicles 25:6-8 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 25 (Whole Chapter)
2 Chronicles 2:14
...whose mother was from Dan and whose father was from Tyre. He is trained to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, and with purple and blue and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to him. He will work with your skilled workers and with those of my lord, David your father.
2 Chronicles 2:13-15 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 2 (Whole Chapter)
2 Chronicles 26:11
Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials.
2 Chronicles 26:10-12 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 26 (Whole Chapter)
2 Chronicles 26:13
Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies.
2 Chronicles 26:12-14 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 26 (Whole Chapter)
Psalm 18:34
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Psalm 18:33-35 (in Context) Psalm 18 (Whole Chapter)
Psalm 144:1
Of David. Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
Psalm 144:1-3 (in Context) Psalm 144 (Whole Chapter)
Daniel 1:5
The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
Daniel 1:4-6 (in Context) Daniel 1 (Whole Chapter)
Luke 6:40
The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
Luke 6:39-41 (in Context) Luke 6 (Whole Chapter)
1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
1 Corinthians 9:24-26 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 9 (Whole Chapter)
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:3-5 (in Context) Ephesians 6 (Whole Chapter)
1 Timothy 4:7
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
1 Timothy 4:6-8 (in Context) 1 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
1 Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-9 (in Context) 1 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:15-17 (in Context) 2 Timothy 3 (Whole Chapter)
Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:13-14 (in Context) Hebrews 5 (Whole Chapter)
Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Reader Comments (2)
Lisa - I trained for and completed my first triathlon last year! It was a spring too, and I had ever really swam before (or at least not since high school). You can do it girl! It was a great accomplishment and it does so closely resemble the training we need as Christ's warriors in our everyday life :)
Hi Lisa...so glad to hear you are back at the Z (You & Scott rocked!); I'm so happy for you and Darin and your little guys too...and I hope your mama is doing well.
Oh, and regarding training...Just Do It!
In Him,
Susan Jacobs