There comes a time in everyone’s life where they wonder if what they are doing is right. They wonder if they are going down the right road. Once they begin to move forward in any direction they question whether they made the right choice or not. They may even begin hating their decision and wonder what made them move in that direction anyway. Take a job change for instance, you may have been so excited but now you hate it. Exercise – well, you may have had high hopes at one point, but those are dashed now. What about when you got married? Where you excited to start a new life, but now your struggles make you wonder if you married the right person?
The very mantra that drives Satan to do what he does could very well be this: “Steal, Kill, Destroy – Steal, Kill, Destroy – Steal, Kill, Destroy!” After all, Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” But then He goes on to explain that He, Jesus, is come to give life and give it abundantly! What a difference!! Satan wants you to live in fear, depression, hopelessness, despair, lies, and self-condemnation… but Jesus wants to give you life, hope, joy, peace and love! Wow!
So what exactly made us not want to run anymore anyway? What caused us to stray from the motivation and willpower we had in the beginning? About 80% of Americans have given up on their New Year’s Resolutions by now, about half of marriages end in divorce, and exercise, well if you ask most anyone you’ll see how long that lasts. When we do not like something, most likely we have allowed ourselves to focus on a lie or something that is not true -which would be deception, same thing as a lie. Almost all negativity comes from a lie that we believe, either about God, ourselves or others. We live our lives based on what we believe, whether it is true or not.
A few weeks ago I was working on a speed workout in the rain, I was exhausted and mentally worn out. I knew my body could do more but my mind kept screaming that I couldn’t do it. Then it hit me. My whole life I had told myself in different scenarios, “I can’t do it,” and that had become such a belief of my heart that when something got tough I would know that I couldn’t do it. I intellectually knew the truth, but I didn’t believe it. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
I decided to try a new mantra, “I can.” I yelled, (as much as one totally out of breath can), “I CAN” over and over again as I finished my sprints. I was pretty wet by now, but I didn’t care. I was determined to run those tenth mile laps as fast as my body could. When I was finally done and satisfied with my pace, I praised God and went about my day, but that lesson has not left me. Whenever I think I can’t, immediately the phrase, “I can” pops in my mind and I thank God for it.
I challenge each one of you to pick a struggle you are going through, whatever it may be, and ask God for a scripture truth. Memorize that verse and meditate on it. If you can, find a few words that state the truth and for five minutes repeat that, out loud, to yourself over and over again. The fewer the words the faster it will stick, (just make sure it is a true statement). For example, another situation I went through a while back I kept repeating, “It’s Impossible,” but God gave me Matthew 19:26, “…with God all things are possible.” From this I repeated over and over again, “It’s Possible.” (Now that I think of it, I could have also done, “God Can,” but at the time, “Its Possible” was more fitting for the situation, so do what works for you.)
As we close, I leave you with these verses:
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life… If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
John 8:32; 14:6; 8:36
Now, go believe the truth!
Be Still and Run 