I try to walk 3 to 4 times a week. I tried running, but I really hate it. I mean REALLY hate it. So, I power walk.

I pretty much average a 13’ish minute mile. Sometimes a little more. Sometimes a little less. But that’s a pretty sustainable pace for me. But today, I wanted to see just how fast I could do it. And I walked a 12:21 mile. It wasn’t pretty, but I did it!

And then all these thoughts started flooding my mind about how it compared to this race I’m running for Him. And we all have a race to run.

Distractions slow me down.

I noticed whenever my mind wandered off, I slowed down. At first, I was really focused on my time. Focused on the route, my gait, my breathing, my speed.

Then I’d start thinking of other things…something Alli said before school today or what time we needed to be at soccer tonight. And whenever my mind drifted, I slowed down.

When I would reign in my focus, I’d speed back up.

It’s the same thing in this race we’re running for Christ. Especially in our society, it’s easy to get distracted and pulled off course.

It’s easy to get distracted by “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” And focusing on the past – always looking backwards – will slow us down more than almost anything else.

Let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us. Looking away from all that will distract to Jesus… (Hebrews 12:1-2)

So let’s reign in that focus and run!

Every walk can have a different purpose and a different effect

It’s true that anytime I lace up my shoes I’m hoping to get a good workout. Hoping to make a dent in burning off these last 5 pounds. But I’ve noticed that every walk has a different effect.

Sometimes when I walk by myself, I’m all out. I’m challenging myself to go faster. To walk harder. To beat my last record. It’s all about a maximum workout.

Other times when I walk alone, it’s to be alone. Away from the kids and house and to do list. I get to meditate. Pray. Think things through. Enjoy the quiet. I walk a little slower during these walks, but they still have an impact. I’m still burning calories.

When I walk with my husband, I go even slower yet. And that’s okay. The purpose of those times are more to spend time together than anything else.

We still want to get the ‘ole ticker pumping and get some metabolic benefit. But we’re talking and catching up and connecting, and that’s important too. It’s okay to slow down and do both. And isn’t any movement is better than no movement at all?

It’s okay to be driven. To work faster and walk full-on. To go, go, GO! But when we ONLY do that, we sometimes miss out on other things. Important things. Like people He’s put in our path to minister to and that He wants to use to minister to us. Like things He is waiting to show us if we would just slow down a bit.

What would have happened if Jesus hadn’t stopped on the way to Jairus’ house to minister to the woman with the issue of blood? Selah!

Life goes at different paces in different seasons, and that’s okay. Every season has a different purpose and a different effect, but we need them all! Go with it. And look for the purpose in the different pace. God’s got a plan for it. Press into it.

 Walking doesn’t cost me energy…it gives me energy

There are days I just don’t feel like lacing up those shoes and hitting the road. Days after a short night when I’m exhausted, it’s so hard to hit the trail. Mostly I just head out anyway.

And I’ve found that walking doesn’t zap my energy. I actually feel more energized when I finish.

And it’s the same thing in this race we’re in. Sometimes it just seems so much more inviting to stay in our PJ’s than to get up and do something, doesn’t it? To work in the nursery. To be a greeter. To work in the soup kitchen at the local mission or to hit the streets and tell someone about Jesus. To teach that Bible study or start that ladies group.

We’re tired. Zapped. Drained. Feel like we have nothing to give. But when you get up and do it anyway, you will be energized. Believe you me. Why?

Because the hose always gets wet. You can’t turn on a hose and use it to water the garden and keep the inside of the hose dry. The hose will always get wet.

And you can’t give out of the rivers of living water that are in you without getting wet. Without getting refreshed yourself. So let it flow.

I know these are just simple thoughts, but they were encouraging to me today. And I pray they encourage you too.

Who’s ready to lace up and get out there with me?