April 24, 2010

Spiritual and Training Prep

Running today and did 6 miles at a 10:40 pace.  Foot started hurting at 3.5 miles.  PF is not easing up much and my right foot is starting to act up.  Got me to thinking about Paul the apostle.  2nd Cor 12:7 – <To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.> 

As I think about what we are doing and when I drift off into passing thousands and crossing the finish line to cheers, the foot pain comes alive.  I pray to the Lord that he will take it away and make me fleet without pain in order to raise more for the medical needs of the Haitians and not for any glory for me.  The pain reminds me that my strength, and what I can do above my physical limitations will only come from him.  It will not be me at all.  It will be his grace, his energy, his spirit and his people that will enable to just finish.   There is nothing in me to make this run successful other than to ask the Lord for strength and good health.  I ask that my weakness and sin not stand in the way of anyone receiving from his goodness not only in this run but for all those with whom I will have contact in my life.  I pray that if need be, all my weaknesses and fears be exposed to lead others to know, worship and serve you Lord.  All, we pray is in the name of Jesus.