1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV — Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

This week I will discuss “active worship,” which means getting your body moving while worshiping God. After all, our bodies are His Temples. I will also include a song each day that has touched me on my running journey. 

The excuse that you don’t have a walker or runner’s body might be tucked in the back of your mind and you don’t even realize it. The next time you give out the excuse, remember there is no such thing as a walker or runners body type. Maybe you like another form of movement. What  excuses are holding you back from moving your body? I understand that some might be confined due to health limitations. You can still practice movement by sitting in God’s presence and taking deep inhales and exhales as you meditate. After you have really examined your excuses, I encourage you to take those excuses and write “I Can” statements. Changing your words to “I can” instead of “I can’t” is the first step toward movement.

What are your “I can” statements? I encourage you to share them with a family, friend, or mentor so that they can help hold you accountable. It is easy to slip back into “I can’t” mode when life gets in the way. Be reminded in Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV — He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for my body, mind, and spirit. I commit to good health and taking care of myself so that I can flourish in all the plans You have for me. Guard my heart and mind against the sin that entangles me. I pray I can remain steadfast with my exercise, my thoughts, and my devotion. Give me the strength to fulfill Your perfect will for me. My body is a temple for Your Holy Spirit and I want to honor it. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

I remember the first time I ran a 5K all the way through like it was yesterday. It was April 6, 2019, at East Bay Park. I had intentions of running 4.75K but then a song I love started to play called Forever Reign by Hillsong. Some of the lyrics sing, “I’m running to your arms, I’m running to your love, the riches of your love will always be enough.” I was so focused on the song that before I knew it, I had reached 5K. The best part, my dad called me moments after I finished. I was able to share with my dad the Joy of completing my first 5K. Running a 5K was just the beginning.