“…train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
1 Timothy 4:7b-8

*buzz* *buzz* *buzz*

I lay still for a moment, eyes closed, hoping that everything would just…sort of…disappear, and I could drift peacefully back to sleep.

*buzz* *buzz*

Auughhh.

Seriously? I don’t want to get up.

I cracked open one eye, to see if I could get a general feel of the weather outside. Grey. Cloudy. Windy. Probably 40 degrees.

I hate running. And if there’s one thing that could make me hate it even more…it’s wind and cold. I can’t do this. My bed is so warm and comfy.

In spite of my brain protesting every move I made, I rolled out of bed, and began donning my layers…all the while, grumbling, I can’t do this. I just…I can’t do this. I don’t want to.

I finished tying my sneakers, and cracked open the door. A blast of icy wind hit me in the face.

Oh great. It’s colder than I thought. Just perfect. I am not going to survive this run even if I DO make it outside. I shouldn’t even bother. I should just stay inside today. I won’t even be able to move out there.

And STILL, in spite my grumbling and resisting inside, a minute later I found myself jogging down the road.

Why am I doing this? I don’t like running. I just don’t. I wasn’t made to be a runner. Why do I keep doing this to myself.

*thump, thump, thump*

hmmm. I have more energy than I thought I would though. In fact…I think I have more energy than I’ve ever had for running. Weird.

*thump, thump, thump*

Maybe this whole running thing is actually paying off! Maybe…I mean…it’s unlikely…but, just maybe my body is getting stronger! Maybe I can actually do this!

Ok, has this ever happened to you? I hope I’m not the only one who has these kind of conversations going on in my head. Yes…yes…this is a true story. I really do hate running this much. Yes, it is slightly pathetic. But, this post isn’t actually about running (thank goodness!!).

However, I share this story because I thought it highlighted very well the internal struggles we can go through when we are trying to do *anything* worthwhile. *Especially* when it is going to keep us rooted and flourishing in godliness! Yeah. Like getting up early or staying up late to spend time reading your Bible and seeking the Lord. Like, instead of surfing the internet when you have a free moment, pulling out the Bible.

When these good intentions manage to even just sneak into our thoughts, we immediately react, just like I react when my alarm goes off, and I know it is a lousy day outside, but I still need to go running.

What?? I won’t be able to function properly if I don’t get the rest I need. I can’t get up early! I’m already sacrificing so much to spend my day working/serving my family’s needs. I *deserve* my sleep time. I certainly won’t be able to focus on the Lord if I’m groggy. Yeah. I’ll just try to fit Him in some other time that’s a little more convenient. There we go. That makes much more sense. I don’t know what I was even thinking there. Get up early? Nah. That’s ridiculous. Plus. I mean, aside from all my GOOD reasons…I just really…don’t want to.

Now, running is of some value, as it strengthens our bodies to work properly, so that we can live with more energy to do what needs to be done each day. But if we do it once, and then never do it again…the benefits won’t carry over. If we keep it up for a few weeks, and then just kind of…take a break for a week or two after we get to a point where we feel like we’ve gotten a lot better at it, we will lose all the muscle and energy we had gained from our training, and when we go back to do it again, we will find that we can barely limp through what was an easy exercise…you know…just like a month ago! BUT, if we continue to practice, day after day, week after week, month after month, we WILL get stronger, and have more energy, and we will actually get to reap the benefits of our sacrifice!

Our walk with the Lord is very similar to this, in many ways, which is why it is so often compared to running a race, or being an athlete in training. It takes the same self-denial, the same endurance, the same reckless determination to keep going no matter what “cold winds” may try to blow us off course, or cause our resolve to tremble. We can’t just spend time with the Lord on Sunday and expect it to carry us through the rest of our week. If we want to walk in the power of the Lord each day, we need to be practicing our obedience to seek the Lord each day. Whether we feel like it or not. Whether we are excited about it or not. Whether we feel “good” or “encouraged” by it one day or not.

Like the virgins in Jesus’ parable, we must be careful to keep our lamps lit, day after day, not knowing when Jesus will return, but knowing it WILL be soon…and WE want to be ready, and found prepared to meet Him when He returns. Because we MUST endure to the end; just making it most of the way through our lives and then becoming careless isn’t an option. It is the same as running for any prize — if you want to endure to the end, you have to persevere through all the training, all the practice, AND to the finish line. Otherwise, all the training and practice means nothing. You’re disqualified, even if you practiced every day for your whole life, but then give up in the last 500 feet before the finish line. And…if we can’t even make it to the practices…how can we expect to make it through the race, to the finish line?? It’s like taking a couch potato and setting them in the middle of the woods somewhere, and telling them to go run a marathon.

Each day that we seek the Lord matters. And each day that we don’t seek the Lord makes a difference…because we are not moving forward, and are in fact *losing* spiritual muscles.

Like 1 Timothy 4:15a says, we must “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them…”.

When you ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? I don’t even like this. Is there any point?” Just remember, yes. There is. And as you strengthen your spiritual muscles more and more, and remain faithful in seeking the Lord daily, whether you “feel” any more spiritual or not…you WILL find there is a difference in your day to day life. A difference in your actions, your words, your thoughts. And others will probably begin to notice the difference even before you do! I can’t overstate the importance of seeking the Lord each and every day.

I’m talking to myself here too. It has been an intense struggle lately to get my time with the Lord each day. But we must continually be reminding ourselves that our Bridegroom is coming soon! And we want to be alert, and made ready for His coming! 

What about you? Have you come up with a good way to get time with the Lord daily? Or is this still something you struggle with? What are you going to do TODAY, before you go to bed tonight, to get time with the Lord??

Drop us a comment below, because we’d love to connect with you!

We here at Unshakable Girl are wholly committed to pursuing Jesus even if, often, it may mean that we stand alone. However, by the grace of God, He has not made us to be loners, or to live out our lives in a secluded cabin in the woods.  This Father’s Day, we wanted to take the time to recognize a few of the godly men in our lives who have stood in the gap and been an encouragement to us as fathers, brothers, and friends. ALSO, we want to encourage you in two ways: 1) that there ARE godly men out there (really! truly!), and 2) when you see a godly, wise, or chivalrous man — or even just a man who is TRYING to do what is right — recognize it. Encourage him! Don’t let his efforts go un-noticed. There are so few godly gentlemen today, that every effort towards godliness and gentlemanliness is well worth applauding and encouraging.

Stephanie

I have been blessed over the past two years to work with one of the most humble and patient men I have ever met.  He manages to balance being a teacher, minister, student, and father, yet still makes the time for prayer and a Scriptural pep-talk when anyone needs it.  His patience and wisdom are what most inspire me.  I have a strong-willed streak, and can be very critical, so being able to see him approach conflict with respect, humility, and a level head has taught me that Christlike meekness is possible in the midst of very real problems.  As a leader, he takes full responsibility for those around him.  I have already learned so much from this colleague who has become a brother and a friend, but I pray that I will grow to be as wise and humble a leader as he has proven to be.

I am also very grateful for the big brother God has given me, who is now raising a family of his own to love and follow Jesus.  He has always been someone I could admire and trust to look out for me.  Now that we’re grown up, I know that I can go to him with any problem to get some perspective and sound godly advice.   It has also been a blessing as I grow closer to the Lord, to watch where God is leading him as he puts his trust in the Lord too.  My brother has always been iron to sharpen my iron in so many different ways, and I love being able to share life with him.

Tai Sophia

It is hard to express just how much my dad has meant to me over the years…and yet, it is hard to speak only of my dad, and exclude my husband, who is my dearest friend, and one of the best dads I’ve ever known. Therefore, I will pick two qualities from each of them to share with you:

My dad was SUCH an encouragement to me growing up. Yes, he was human and of course he made mistakes. But actually, one of the things I appreciated most about him, was that I can remember many times when he would gather us together as a family, and would repent for the ways he had failed in leading us, or in seeking the Lord, or whatever it was that God had spoken to him about. And he did so much to *try* to lead our family in doing what was right — and I greatly regret making his efforts so difficult for him sometimes, and not appreciating it when he tried leading us in family devotions, or family worship. But I so appreciated his humility, and his willingness to always look at his own faults square in the face, and learn and grow. He always took criticism (constructive or otherwise) with no pride, no denial, just always quietly listening…and then, he would go pray about it, and ask the Lord to show him how he could be a better man.

He also always had such clear wisdom. Whenever I came to him with something I was really struggling with, and didn’t know HOW in the world to handle it (most often guy or work related), he would cut through all the fuzziness I had on the issue, and reply with such clear, logical wisdom, that I always left knowing that God had just spoken through him to me. And I grew up always knowing that this was one quality that I needed my future husband to have as well – so it always made it to my “future husband qualifications lists”. And you know what? God did it! So this quality crosses over between both of them, because, aside from my dad, my husband is the wisest man I’ve ever met. Any time I’m stressed or confused, and regurgitate my overwhelmed feelings to him, he quietly listens, and then…his responses will be SO clear and SO wise that immediately I will just feel the whole overwhelming burden of my stress just lift right off my shoulders. “Is it really that simple??” I’ve found myself thinking quite often.

Another thing that has been SUCH a help and encouragement to me is my husband’s patience — with me, with our children…with everyone! He never gets upset or says things in a harsh way. He is always thinking the best — even when it’s with me, and I am having a melt-down (this never actually happens though, right???), and I KNOW I’m wrong, and he really COULD be rightfully mad at me. He’s not. He never takes the harsh things I am all too prone to spewing when I’m upset, to heart. I always know he will give me a hug, and say, “I love you”, afterward…and mean it. I often think, “When I grow up, I want to be like my husband”. But I know this is largely because he just spends a lot of time with Jesus. And that is the most important thing for any of us to do. Without being filled with Living Water every day, day after day, we WILL respond the wrong way. But when we immerse ourselves in Christ and His Word, THESE are the things that will come forth in our words and actions.

Do you have a man of God in your life you would like to recognize?  What about a time Jesus was that man?  Let us know in the comments!  You can also message us on Facebook to share your thoughts, or just have a chat.  We would love the hear from you!