Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬ — Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

I shared yesterday that my word for 2023 was “love.” There are four different types of love. Today I want to highlight Eros which is a passionate love. I decided to go back to the beginning where a woman was formed from the rib of a man. I encourage you to read The Message version of Genesis 2:18-25. This version uses the word “companion” in addition to a helper. Just as Jesus made us for companionship, He didn’t want man to be alone. 

According to the dictionary, a companion is a person who frequently spends time with you, associates with you, or accompanies you when you go places. I know we have readers in all stages of life, whether single, dating, engaged, married, divorced, or widowed. Whatever stage of life, most of us desire companionship, even if it’s with our four-legged, furry friends. Our love should always be genuine and never taken for granted. We should not forget to take delight and look for joy. In Romans 12:10 NLT we read “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” 

Have you ever read The 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman? I think we have shared it before but it has been a while. Just like we start the year off trying to be better spiritually, physically, and mentally, I encourage us all to share that same passion with our companions.

You can take a quiz and ask your companion to do the same; 5 Love Languages Quiz

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the gift of companionship with You as my Heavenly Father and those that You have placed in my life here on Earth. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

1 John 3:18-20 — “My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves”. 

February is known as the month of love. In February 2023 I shared my word of the year: “love;” and mantra: “your grace is my armor.”

That particular year I added goals that I could journal and evaluate throughout the year. They are similar to the goals I strive for with Run for God which encourages us to grow spiritually, physically, and mentally closer to God.

Spiritually: Love God first! Matthew 22‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Physically: Love my body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Honor it with self-care and preventative medicine. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 

Mentally: His grace is my armor. Shut down debilitating self-criticism. John‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬ – If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 

I encourage you to think about your own goals as you meditate on today’s verses.

@biblegateway @youversion

A song that God laid on my heart and inspired my word, verse, and mantra for 2023 is by singer Tom Mottershead; Greater Than Our Hearts. Within the title of the song is the scripture referenced, 1 John 3:20. It was The Message version in verses 18-20 that spoke to me. Words like, “real love,” “self-criticism,” and “greater” leaped from the text. That real love is practiced through God’s love and grace for us. In the lyrics he sings, “your grace is my armor.” God’s grace covers us from head to toe, including the self-criticism that sometimes pierces through. It is so encouraging to know that God’s love is greater than ourselves. 

In Matthew 11:28-30 NIV Jesus said — Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Join us for See You Saturday as we close out our week on getting unstuck. Carol Kent’s book, He Holds My Hand, writes, “You can believe that I have something important for you to do right now and move into a positive, Spirit-infused, Christ-honoring, joy-filled adventure with Me.”

Psalms‬ ‭149‬:‭1‬, ‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

Join us for See you Saturday as we wrap up our week on active worship. We encourage you to worship with To You by Chandler Moore, Maverick City.

Psalm 1:1-3 NIV — Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose lead does not wither — whatever they do prospers. 

This week I have been discussing “active worship,” which means getting your body moving while worshiping God. After all, our bodies are His Temples. I am including a song that has touched me on my running journey. 

Since I use both running and walking as a form of worship, with each step, I am running on His word. With every mile, I am like His tree planted, growing, and being nurtured to flourish, bearing fruit so I may prosper in the season that I am in. Running is just me and the strength of my God on the path to perfect peace. I encourage you to list five worship songs and intentionally find time to worship God throughout your day. Then take it one step fartherand worship through intentional movement, such as walking or running.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for allowing me to participate in active worship this week. I pray that through worship and movement I can bring You glory and honor in all that I do. I desire to take care of my Temple physically, spiritually, and mentally. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. 

I would love for my running journey to inspire others to find joy and strength amid their adversities. A song that continues to help me through my Jericho’s is Do It Again by Elevation Worship. The lyrics sing, “Walking around these walls, I thought by now they’d fall but you have never failed me yet. Waiting for change to come, knowing the battle’s won. For you have never failed me yet. Your promise still stands, great is your faithfulness! I’m still in your hands, THIS IS MY CONFIDENCE! You’ve never failed me yet. I know the night won’t last; your word will come to pass. My heart will sing your praise again. Jesus, you’re still enough, keep me within your love, my heart will sing your praise again. I’ve seen you move; you move the mountains. And I believe I’ll see you do it again. You made a way where there was no way. And I believe I’ll see you do it again.”

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.