1 Tim 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
I’ve never considered myself to be particularly athletic. I don’t remember playing sports as a kid. I’m not terribly graceful or coordinated. But I have found as I age that I enjoy running. I don’t know that I’m particularly good at it, but I am tenacious. My preferred length is anywhere from 5 miles to 13.1. I don’t do sprints. I’m not fast. But I can dig deep and persevere, and there is a lot to be said for that.
1 Tim 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.
Unfortunately, I’ve fallen out of the running habit of late, and to start again, I’ll have to start at the beginning. My strength, my endurance, it’s gone from disuse. But not so with my spiritual training. Everything that I read, that I study, it’s all still rattling around in my brain. Sometimes God brings verses to mind out of nowhere. Sometimes it takes a while for the meaning of a verse to really click. But God uses it all. Nothing is wasted.
Matt 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the analogy of spiritual training and physical training like I do for running. Thank You that time, study, and prayer make a difference in my ability to comprehend Your word and to recognize Your presence. Thank You for the tenacity that You built into the fiber of my being and for the fact that nothing in this life is wasted. You can use it all to draw us all closer to You. Draw is ever closer, Lord. Amen.
1 Tim 4:10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people….
Have a blessed day.