It's Worth The Effort
Monday July 31, 2017
Every year the city of Vancouver, BC hosts "The Sun Run" and thousands of folks participate. Many train for weeks in advance of the run. They stretch and jog and challenge themselves to run longer and faster. While they run, they sweat, they are short of breath, they push past discomfort to reach their goal, and yet many will tell you "It’s worth the effort”.
God commands us to stay pure and obey what is right. It may be challenging for us to hear God’s rules for life but it is even more challenging to obey them. Like the runner, we may feel the discomfort of pushing past our desires of the moment in favour of doing what God says is right. However, when we do, and achieve our goal, we can also say "It's worth the effort”.
How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9-11 NLT)
To avoid relapse into any type of sin and destructive behaviour, we need to regularly fill our minds and hearts with God’s word. As an athlete trains and builds up muscles and strength for the race ahead, so we stay on course in our new life by regularly spending time with God in prayer and meditation, seeking only knowledge of God’s will and the power to carry it out.
Those who complete the annual Sun Run in Vancouver experience satisfaction for having conquered a challenge. We too will find great joy and satisfaction as we live free from our obsessions and compulsions. Attaining the goal of living pure before God really is worth the effort.
Prayer: Loving God, Help me to cast off everything that hinders me from running the race marked out for me. When temptation comes my way, strengthen me to do what is right according to Your word. AMEN
©2017 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/
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