Who Inspires You?

Motivation Monday's topic this week is such a short and sweet question yet it has been one of the hardest ones for me to write about!

Inspiration in my life has varied in the different seasons and I wanted to pinpoint that one true Source. People who don't make excuses inspire me. My favorite books inspire me. My family inspires me. Nature inspires me. Really, when I dig down to the actual root of it, God is the One behind my inspiration.

He gives me the motivation to live for each day. There is no doubt about that. Whether it's waking up early to make breakfast for my husband and son or lacing up my shoes to run a few miles, I don't have the power within myself to be motivated each day. (Not to say I don't hit the snooze button or think up excuses for skipping a long run from time to time!)

Yes, God even cares about running! Isn't running a shallow concern? Does He care about the daily, mundane things we do? Yes, God cares about everything we do and He is the One who has given us our unique gifts and interests! My life verse is 1 Corinthians 10:31 and it says just that. Whether you eat or drink - or maybe you underwater basket-weave or run or paint or climb mountains or whatever you do - do it all for God's glory!
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31

The Best Part

This is my favorite. We don't need to be a "big deal" to glorify God! God is THE Big Deal and He can work with us just as we are. Thank God for that! I am an average person - not rich and famous or insanely popular and by no means am I a professional runner - but God still chooses to use me for His purpose and I can still glorify Him through what I do. In the past and still today, God uses simple, plain old people to accomplish His awesome plans.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31 (emphasis added by me)
Let's talk running in particular.

I started running on a whim in 2008 and running one mile down the gravel road was a big ordeal for me! I continued running, nervously entered my first 5k in 2009, tried out the 10k in 2010 and ran my first marathon that September. In 2012, I ran the Boston Marathon and was blessed to fellowship with other Christians at the pre-race prayer meeting with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Running 6 miles for the first time and then jumping to 26 miles doesn't make a ton of sense and there is no way I would have survived without God. Running long distance has brought me to places where my body had nothing left but I kept pressing on but not in my own power. That state of physical depletion is something that actually draws me to long-distance running. It is freeing to have no power left in yourself and to keep pushing on in the power God gives us.

My First Marathon: We made a quick lap around the track before hitting the trails and it didn't take too long to wipe that smile off my face!

As I said before, I am just an average person but God has blessed me with these wonderful opportunities and a passion to run. My goal is to use whatever I do in life and the opportunities He places in my life to bless other people and glorify God through that. The key is giving the credit to God and recognizing that what I do is not through my own power but solely through His.

Running is a amazing gift from God and I am thankful for the gifts and the passion that He has given me! I pray that God continually shows me how I can bless others and glorify Him each day. As the FCA Competitors Creed says;

LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN.
LET THE GLORY BE GOD’S!

How to Glorify God Through What You Do

  1. Keep an Eternal Perspective. Remember that your identity is in Jesus Christ, not in what you do. Running is a wonderful gift but it isn't who I am. I am a follower of Christ, wife, and mother before I am a runner.
  2. Encourage Others. Whether you are on the run or doing other daily tasks, focus on building others up. Every day can be a witness of what God is doing in your life.
    Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11
  3. Point to God. Give God credit for the wonderful things He does in your life!
    Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 CORINTHIANS 1:31
  4. Ask God for Direction. God gives us each our specific gifts to fulfill His purposes. Ask God how you can use the gifts He has blessed you with to bring Him glory. God gives us His Holy Spirit that lives in us and can give us direction through everything in life - we just need to ask!
    Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19
  5. Just Be Yourself. We don't need to be a big deal, super famous, or popular to be used by God. He just needs us to be devoted to serving Him! In the past, I have felt that I am not a "good enough Christian" to share what Jesus has done in my life. That is a lie from Satan! Thank God for all of my weaknesses because they are opportunities for God's strength to shine through. Generally, I don't have the right words to say or write but I can count on the Holy Spirit to speak through me.

Who inspires you?

Enjoying the simple beauty of a gravel road

Half Training Week 3:
MON - 1-mile easy run. Didn't feel like running today, so I cut it short.
TUES - 6-mile run, 8 x 400m hill intervals
WED - DVD Workout: 30-Day Shred Level 3 and 3-mile easy run with the family.
THURS - 5.5-mile tempo run at 7:52~7:42/mile
FRI - 3-mile easy run
SAT - 10.16-mile long run. My legs felt really good throughout the whole run.
Be encouraged and bless others this week! And have a "Hat Party". E loves those...


Comments

  1. My great uncle was my inspiration for years and still is.

    He was a profound mix of heart, humility, hard work, simplicity, faith, and more. We wrote letters for 11 years until 2 weeks before his death when I was a senior in high school.

    As life pushes on, I often think of him. His soul was pure. His applause was a simple, "you're doing well. I'm glad to hear about your successes. Keep working hard."

    Nothing fancy. Just heart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing, Wendy - your great uncle sounds like he was an awesome guy! People don't always even realize it but simple encouragement does mean a lot.

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