My Running Partner is Prayer

Training.

I never thought that I would be saying that word again.  And yet here I am actively admitting that I am training.

Not in the "work my tail off to the point where I am so exhausted I have nothing left to give my family" kind of training, but the "let's keep this up so that I can accomplish this" kind of training.

There is an all women 5 km race held in Toronto in October and I am looking to register!  To be honest, I am actually kind of excited about it!  The last time I ran a race was in October 2007 . . . 6 months after I gave birth to Hailey, our youngest daughter.

I have always had a soft spot for running.  I cannot say that I am very good at it, but I enjoy it.  I love the feeling of the pavement beneath my feet and the way that I can just get lost in my music as I round the corners of the streets in my neighbourhood.

I love being able to plug into my music and being able to let go of the day.  With every step that I take as I run the streets of this town, I find that whatever stress I had about the day is being left right there.  Like it falls off my back and lands right there to be left behind.

Some of my favourite music to listen to while I am running is Praise and Worship music.  I love being able to worship and glorify God while I am pounding the pavement!  Plus, there is nothing better than hearing words being spoken to your heart while you are out there.  Often times I find myself in prayer as I run.  I know that you may think that praying while running is strange, but I find it to be a fantastic way to end my work day.  What better way to end your day then with songs bring Praise to our Heavenly Father and with the words of our mouth praising and glorifying Him, coming before Him and talking to Him as we would our own father or friend.

Plus, there are often times where I need to pray to ask God to give me the strength to finish that run at the end of the day.

Often times we tell ourselves that the only way we can come to God in prayer is on bended knee in a place of solitude.  How mistaken we are!  God wants us to come to Him in prayer at all times!  It doesn't matter if we are on the bus, walking to work or if we are out for a run at the end of the day.  When we come to God in prayer seeking forgiveness for our wrong doings and bring praises to Him then we are truly bringing Him everything.

Don't get me wrong, I am not denying the importance of prayer in solitude on bended knee.  I believe that this, too, is important.  However, we need to remember that God wants all of our prayers.  He wants us to reach out to Him and to talk to Him just as we would reach out to our best friend or to a loved one.  He wants us to talk to Him about our day.  He wants to be that listening ear.

So the next time you are out for a run or are on the treadmill or out for a walk, whatever form of exercise that you do, bring your day to Him in prayer.  You will feel the difference in your heart and trust me, it will all be worth it!!!