Pressing On Is So Worth It

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/ekJ_BLv-ZrM?si=r2rihrhWpkhYK22z

“Pressing On Is So Worth It”

Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

As I’ve mentioned in the recent past, I decided to take up running again and get back into better shape.  Since mid-April, I’ve been focusing my attention on conditioning my body to prepare for the Mankato 5K coming up Oct 18.  As I’ve continued to run and prepare, I’ve been learning so many things and remembering running when I was younger as I did track and cross country. 

 

I’ve remembered how hard it is a lot of times to keep going, even when you feel like giving up at times.  Depending on the weather of certain days or how tired I am, some days I do better running, while other days not so much.  Recently, I increased my distance to better prepare for the 5K.  I’m finding out I’m not as young as I used to be!  It’s hard work!  I do enjoy doing this, but it’s also very hard some days.  Pacing myself, controlling my breathing and just keeping in mind that it will get better as I improve.

 

I think about the words of the Apostle Paul as he talked about pressing on and keeping focused on the prize!  I often have to remind myself of this while I’m running.  I think so much about how it’s hard to do this, but I haven’t run for so many years and just now getting back into it.  It’s going to take time and I need to work through the obstacles I face each time I run.  I often get halfway through and I’m thinking, “Shouldn’t this be getting easier?”  I have to remember that it will and I just have to keep going and keep my focus. 

 

So often in our lives, we must remember that we need to keep our focus on Christ and keep striving and pressing on.  Times get tough, but we get back up and keep going.  I have been getting so focused on my time in running and getting aggravated if I’m not doing better.  My wife reminds me, “Hey, you just started running again.  At least you’re keeping at it and you’re finishing!”  I gotta remember that I’m getting there and I will improve with time.  A couple guys from church have been encouraging me lately with my running as they are runners, too. 

 

I know that pressing on is so worth it!  God wants us to press on and focus on what’s ahead, not on the struggles we’ve had in the past.  We just gotta keep going and keep plugging away!  God is with us every step of the way.  Pressing on can be downright tough at times, but it’s so worth the pain we feel along the way.  When I get done with my daily jogs, my body feels better.  But, during the run, it’s hard and I just gotta keep going.  Keep my pace, keep at it and the improvements will come.  We all need to keep pressing on!

I Am With You

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/faIHhS3OUPM?si=vdT3cmVSGur159yp

“I Am With You”

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

 

This passage, along with numerous other passages, came up when I did a search in the YouVersion Bible app for “I am with you”.  It’s so comforting to know that God reminded so many people that He would be with them. 

 

The past couple of weeks at my work have been very stressful and overwhelming.  There have been some days when I felt so overwhelmed that it felt like the challenges were so much bigger than they really were.  When we get handed challenges at work or in life, it’s often easy to think they are bigger and more powerful than they really are.  It can be very overwhelming and feel like they are way bigger than they really are.  We can feel defeated and like we aren’t gonna get through the situations.

 

This past week, I had to constantly remind myself that nothing is greater or bigger than God and He is always with me.  I had to talk to some people regarding how I felt so that I could work through the feelings I had.  I’m continuing to learn each day that God is always with me.  It’s easy to say this, but when certain situations and demands arise, we can feel totally defeated and like we aren’t going to get anywhere.

 

As I worked through some tough challenges and talked to a coworker, I felt a little bit of relief.  Sometimes it’s so easy to get things worked up in our minds and we tend to make those things bigger than they really are.  It’s so easy to do.  We gotta take a step back, get a different perspective, breathe, and regroup.  I had to remind myself a lot these past couple of weeks to breathe.  I was so overwhelmed and felt very stressed.  I kept telling some people that I needed to just breathe and think through what I needed to do.

 

Friends, I want to remind us all that God is with us.  He’s been with us and with others through the many years of time.  He will never leave us.  He is always with us and is guiding us.  This doesn’t mean He will take the situations away and make all things better.  Sometimes we wish He would, right??? 

 

I’m so glad to be reminded each day that He is always with me.  He will never leave me.  When I feel overwhelmed and the challenges look way bigger than life, I need to take a breather and regroup.  When I do, somehow God sees me through and I get a different perspective.

 

Let us remember, through all of our current challenges in life, God is saying “I Am With You”.