A New Day...a New Start!

Today I went for a short run. It was very short just a mile, but during that mile I felt God speak into my heart. I was thinking at the time that it felt as though I was starting my training from the beginning and to be honest I was and am disappointed, BUT...God is the God of the new start. He is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega the first and the last...so why would I not trust in him?
So often we are disappointed that things don't quite go to plan, or don't quite go the way we want them to go, but God is in control...he knows what he's doing. 
When I became a Christian first, my mother bought me a little plaque which to this day is on the window in my bedroom. It has a really famous verse on it, but I know that this verse is as relevant for me today as it was the day my mother bought it. The verse on the plaque is:

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 

This is a great passage of scripture, it's such an encouragement to know that God is in every situation, both good and bad. However there is more to this verse if we read the next few verses.

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord.

God wants to be part of all of our lives. He wants us to share our whole lives with him. These verses are telling us that we need to seek him because he will be found! He loves us and wants us to love him back.

If you are reading this and are struggling with anything today, read this passage of Jeremiah and be blessed to know that there is a God in heaven and he is waiting to be found, he is waiting to share your inner most being with him, if you don't know him as Lord then as him to be part of your life...it's as simple as that!

Fear...what's that about?

This morning I opened a Bible app on my phone for the first time in ages. The verse of the day was, 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

This got me thinking about my running. I have been struggling with hip pain for around 6 weeks. Since then I have completed 5k a number of times, but not been able to improve, due to my hip being in pain and the fear of making matters worst. 
I have booked myself in to see a sports physio and I know that he can show me what I'm doing wrong physically, but more importantly in this Bible verse, God has shown me what I'm doing wrong spiritually. I'm afraid to push myself in case I hurt myself.
What is that about? Why has this happened? 
Over the past week or so, without going into detail, I have had the worst of times. I have felt completely alone and at times invisible. The problem with this train of thought is that I am not invisible...God is with me and God sees me. Likewise with my training I have realised that I have been fearful, but God says don't fear...know me! In the film Avatar, they greet one another by saying, 'I see you!' This is what God says to me this morning, and this is exactly what God is saying to you this morning. There is nothing to fear as God is love and he loves me and he loves you so love trumps fear.
God is not going to allow me to come this far with my training to allow me to fail at the final hurdle. There is a short time before the GNR and I am going to enjoy my training and embrace what God has called me to do. Whether I run, walk or a combination of both, I will do this because I have nothing to fear because if God is for me then who can be against me!

2 months to go!

Last year I lost 4 stone in weight by trusting in God and eating healthy, this year I decided to get fit. In January I began the long road to healthy living by joining a gym. Each week I would attend the gym at least 4 times a week working hard to get myself ready for the biggest challenge of my life - the Great North Run.

Over the last 8 weeks I've attended a local running group and have struggled to get around the 5k course. I've decided to write this blogg to encourage anyone struggling with anything to trust in God and keep going.

I am a Christian and believe that everything I do should be done to the glory of God. Over the last few weeks I must admit that I have been struggling because those around me have improved in their fitness and running, whereas I seemed to be getting nowhere. It's really hard putting in so much effort with little reward, however over the last week I believe that God has been sorting my mental state and encouraging me to share my faith with others, while also trusting him to enable me to conquer the huge task ahead of me.

Through prayer and lot's of training I have now managed to run 5k a number of times. I am so in awe of what God is doing and even though others think I am unable to complete my challenge, I know that my strength is in the LORD. 

I am aware that I am a long way from where I need to be, but I want to encourage anyone reading this that 

'I can do all this through him who gives me strength'

Philippians 4:13

If you are reading this and realise that you have a mountain to climb in front of you, then remember that whatever the challenge you are never alone, you can do all things with Christ and that no matter what...Jesus is on the throne. Allow him to be on the throne of your life and run the race with Him!