Thursdays in the Truth: I Can't Do This Alone

For those of you that know me, I have been regularly going to the gym for about a year now.  That is something I never expected to be doing.  Unfortunately, as we get older, our bodies require some maintenance that they didn’t necessarily need when we were 20!  Am I right, ladies? You know my pain.  The good news is that I have arguably the best workout buddy ever.  She pushes me when I feel lazy and has introduced me to parts of the gym that always intimidated me.  We’ve tried group fitness classes, we’ve used all manner of fancy machines, and have even copied crazy exercises we’ve seen others doing.  She’s the best!  Really!  Be jealous! Ok, don’t be jealous, that’s sinful.  Be motivated to find your own workout buddy and then just be awesome together.

The other day we were running on the treadmill.  Seriously, it is hotter than blue blazes outside and you will not catch me running out there in July!  Literally.  I’d be dead on the sidewalk and then my workout buddy would be all alone and I can’t do that to her.  I digress.  I had just gotten back from a lengthy vacation where I had not run as often as I should have.  She “suggested” we run 4 miles instead of our usual 3.  Admittedly I had gotten used to our 3 mile runs and they weren’t terribly challenging anymore.  But that was before I went on a 3 week vacation and forgot what running was.  I was sure I was going to die.  We started running and I found that I was doing great.  Then I hit the 2.75 mile mark and my body automatically started preparing to stop.  My workout buddy had gotten me here but I needed to do something to make it to our goal of 4 miles.  Just as I was about to putter out, the most perfectly motivating song came on my Spotify playlist.  I’m not going to name the song because if you listen to the lyrics it is a bit inappropriate but let’s just say it was a pretty popular one from an 80’s hair band.  All of a sudden, my tired legs were running and my head was bopping and if I could have danced and run at the same time, I would have.  It was amazing!  I probably didn’t look amazing but oh well!  Long story short, I hit our 4 mile goal, and with a darn good time to boot. 

That got me thinking.  It’s really easy to just coast along with what is comfortable in my walk with God.  How often do I challenge myself?  And how do I keep myself motivated when the going get’s tough?

I have found that just like having a workout buddy, I have faith buddies.  (Yes I totally just made up that word!)  These are women I can count on to hold me accountable.  We talk.  We live life together.  They pray with me and for me.  Likewise, I help keep them accountable.  I’ve made it a point to make sure my faith buddies aren’t going to accept some cruddy excuse.  They will call me out when I am being lazy.  I’ve also connected myself in small groups where I can study, learn, and love with other women from different walks of life.  This was God’s design as we see in Hebrews 10:24 (And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…) and 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.). 

Just like music motivates me to keep going at the gym, a good verse can keep my eyes on the Lord.  My life verse seems to change as the seasons of my life change.  I would bet you have either a verse or a song that was adapted from a verse that seems to really hit you deep in the most hurting places of your heart.  One verse that always seems to change my bad attitude is Psalm 118:24 (This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.).  Funny enough, I can never just recite the verse.  I have to sing it!  Sometimes I’m in the mood for an upbeat booty-shaking “Christian” song like God’s Great Dance Floor by Chris Tomlin.  Seriously, I can’t listen and not shake by booty.  Other times I need to listen to a song that pulls from deep within my soul, like Oceans by Hillsong United.  One of my all-time favorites is the old hymn JesusPaid it All.  When I listen to these songs I am sure to have that stirring in my soul.  Perhaps this is one of my spiritual pathways.  I certainly don’t have everything figured out but at least I now know myself well enough to seek these songs out when I need to motivate myself.

We were not meant to stand still and never grow.   How do you motivate yourself?  Who is your God-given faith buddy?  Who counts you as a faith buddy?  What songs or verses stand out to you?