The sun was shinning and it was unseasonably warm a few weeks ago. The snow had all but melted away. It was a gorgeous Saturday morning to say the least. I had been feeling a bit restless and anxious but couldn't really pinpoint why. Nothing was really going on out of the ordinary but I just couldn't shake the feeling. My prayers lately had been that God would launch the ministry he had laid on my heart. I so badly wanted to run the race he had set before me. I wanted to help women become who they were created to be. I knew God was working all this out but I wanted it to take off now!
As I was cleaning up the kitchen I had this crazy urge to look up 5k apps. While you wouldn't think this would be odd for a fitness teacher.....this girl has not run since high school. Seriously my body says ummm NO! Even when I ran in high school let's be real.....I was terrible at it. I only ran because it was fun to hang out with everyone on the track team. The only event I was even kind of good at was the 330 hurdles (who knew this short girl could jump).
I found a couch to 5k app and downloaded it. The next thing I knew I was giving my hubby a kiss and out the door I went. The peppy little trainer's voice coached me on let's jog, time for a brisk walk. Before I knew it my workout was done and I was home. I felt pretty good and the jogging hadn't left me curled up in a ball gasping for breath, so I figured that was a win. What I couldn't figure out was why I all of a sudden wanted to run. Sure I had toyed around with running a few fun 5k's before I turn 40 but those were just thoughts.
Over the course of the next few runs I prayed. God why am I doing this? I don't like running. I do not enjoy getting up early to listen to the peppy voice in the app telling me it was time to jog again. Frankly she kind of annoyed me to the point I wanted to throw the phone in the lake. On run four I finally felt like I was getting an answer. Obedience. God was simply asking me to be obedient. I thought I had been being obedient but I realized in reality I really hadn't. The weeks leading up to downloading the app had me barely working out and my eating had become less than good. I had been really busy with my regular job and had not been giving the ministry a whole lot of thought.
You see God was asking me to be obedient in this small thing so that he can prepare me to be able to run the race he has laid out before me. I can't run my race if I am not taking care of myself. I can't help women get healthy and whole if I am not taking care of this body he has given me.
So while I still can't stand running, I can say that today I completed week two of the couch to 5k. While I did not want to get out of bed and run in the snow, I did it anyway. So today I challenge you to take the leap and ask God what he is calling you to do? What is he asking you to do in obedience? While it may not be easy, I promise you walking in obedience will be worth it in the long run.
Hugs, Michelle
P.S. I changed the apps peppy voice trainer to the drill sergeants voice......I no longer want to throw the phone while I am running! :)