It's what you accept...

Several days had passed and after being silly enough to play 2 soccer games with shin splits - I spent several days in pain, sometimes it's hard to accept that you need to take time to heal, to rest. That is also part of getting fit. I prayed and fought the thoughts that this week of no activity was a setback. I also reflected accepting that at 46, playing the 2nd game injured is probably something I could pass up without feeling weak or wimp. Praying and reading the daily devotions made me think of the waiting times in my life for other things, how hard those were too. As humans we seem unable to see times of waiting as necessary or useful but reading my marathon journal explained the purpose of rest when injured. It also explained how beneficial those times were not only to rest but to increase in strength... what a wonderful spiritual parallel. As I wait for other things I need to allow God's Spirit to strengthen me for what is to come. John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Attitude ...

After the first revelation I purposely put my fitness efforts in His hands and asked God to guide me, help me to find out what would make the difference. Why all my recent efforts weren't yielding the results I expected. Where's my runner's body and muscles?? - why do I feel like a bloated balloon after all that running. Why the shin splits that are killing me? Unlike the movies, the deep voice didn't bellow from the skies but first I was convicted on not being as careful as I usually am at work, I realize my slip in diet was due to discouragement I had been feeling at my lack of results. It was good to identify the problem instead of acting out, I turned it over to God and continued looking for ways to deal with the pain.

On Thursday, I happened to be working in front of the TV which is rare - my daughter was watching "Mystery Diagnosis" a show about people with weird diseases which are finally revealed after years. I was half listening when I heard a doctor comment on this ladies dark elbows - she said her Mom had told her to use lemons to try and lighten them but it never worked - the doctor went on to tell her that was a sign of high insulin levels. You have to understand it peaked my interest immediately because since I was young my Mom had told me the same thing, use lemons for my dark elbows, it was like a light went on and I started surfing the net for information on the effects of high insulin levels, how it increased the fat production, how I really feel ill after I have a anything sweet (even from childhood) because I realized a while ago I was hypoglycemic not diabetic. I had previously bought Chromium and for some reason stopped taking it, I thought it was for diabetics only. I now realize high insulin production is not only related to diabetics, several articles recommended the supplement so I started taking it again, after a few days the bloating decreased, it will take a few months for full effects but I don't believe in coincidences and sometimes God leads us to the answers we need, one by one, as we give our troubles and questions to Him not in rebellious questioning but in an attitude of expecting that He cares... about every detail. I have always been encouraged by the verse in Jeremiah 29:11 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.

Perspective

My 21 day journey started out with asking myself whether I could commit, whether this would be a benefit for me. I was already well on my way to achieving the fit lifestyle that was my goal, I had 25 lbs left to lose and had hit a plateau, so as the experts suggest I decided to change things, do something different so I started running, making the Toronto Marathon in October my ultimate goal. Long distance running has a way of amplifying all the week points in your body and shin splits seem to be the constant irritation and source of discouragement. So this can only be good I conclude to encourage me past the pain.

So in reading the verses and prayer I hit my first revelation ..God really has not been part of my daily training activities ... don't get me wrong I believe way back when I started my fitness journey it was through conviction that I started to strive towards a healthy lifestyle and it was with the Holy Spirit's help that I overcame cravings, my regular habit of drinking coke every afternoon, eating late and just loving fresh breads and carbs that were so deadly to my metabolism. These didn't go away overnight, there were several verses that encouraged me but one in particular '

1Cor. 6:12

12 ^aAll things are lawful unto me, but all things are not ^bexpedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

I think this verse is key for me, in my life every centers in my will, my choice. Time and time. Jesus has shown me that He wants me to choose Him, choose his ways not because of restriction or fear but because I love Him and I want to Honor Him.

So this revelation tells me first that I have made lots of efforts but have dropped the encouragement and communication with him during my daily fitness activities and have not looked to Him for guidance as I used to- so my first step was to go through the verses -the daily readings, pray... and more importantly ...listen.