About 3 years ago I watched a video of a guy in my church who spoke about running. He said he wasn’t that fast and that he didn’t really feel like he knew what he was doing, he just ran. It helped him in so many ways. He said it helped him in his weight loss and gave him more self-confidence. I remember watching Matt’s video testimony and remember thinking….I can do that. He made it really simple.

We were on vacation in Anna Maria Island, roughing it for Jesus. Yea I know, someone had to do it. it was the middle of the summer in Florida and I decided to go out and run. What in the world was I thinking? I wasn’t thinking, I just needed to go out and see how this works. I ran off and on for about 20 minutes and thought I was going to die. It was hot, my legs hurt and I felt weird doing it. But something happened that day that changed my life today. I found something that I could do without judgement and that gave me so many benefits. I could blame nobody else but my self for my time and efforts. Next, I discovered listening to my Ipod while running and thought this is almost as good as chocolate, well maybe not really, but it helped me notto hear how loud I was breathing and how out of shape I was. Plus I could rock out to some Jesus Music too!!

I will tell you that running and the therapy it brings to my soul has helped me stay sane in ministry. As most forms of exercise does, it takes us into a different mindset and allows us to feel a stress relief like no other. It’s one of the best drugs you can take..LOL. When you are having a bad day, had to much stress at work or simply want to de-program, go for a run.

My friend Matt encouraged me a few years ago but saying out loud to many “I just run”. My hope and prayer is that I have encouraged someone today to just “go run” and see what happens. You never know what God will do as you listen to him.

Feel free to comment and bless someone else by encouraging them to take that step!!

1 Corinthians 9:24 -“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”