Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Think on These Things

I recently met a fellow runner via BGR-LA(Los Angeles) and we've been meeting on Saturday mornings, logging 5 miles. We typically run 4 mins and walk 1 min (there's a name for this method, but it escapes me).  Believe it or not this allows us to average a 10 min mile pace or better.  Because of our weekly meetings I've decided to incorporate this method at least 2 mornings a week, while running 3 miles by myself.  I don't understand it, but now 3 miles seems very easy.


Prior to running this morning, I had my quiet time.  It's my favorite part of the day; as I was reading (run 4 mins) and meditating (walk 1 min), these verses came to mind -
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  Philippians 4:8-9
I appear to be a positive person, the eternal optimist but sometimes what I think about, can weigh me down. Sometimes I think about things that are false, dishonest, unjust, ugly, gossip - things that aren't virtuous or praiseworthy. Do you see how the converse of verse 8 is also true?  When I think like this I become a negative person, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  I become a naysayer, I lose sight of the big picture,  I am not an encourager and I don't project hope. In verse 9, Paul is using himself as an example as he speaks to the Philippians.  Since God was using him to teach, model the behaviors that he taught.  The ultimate end result is that we will have peace, which is sorely missing in many today.

My morning run reminds me to enjoy God's beauty and think on positive things; a by product is that the more  I do this, the easier it becomes, just like running.

Are you a positive person? Do you find that spending quiet time with God allows you to be more positive in your thoughts?  Have you mastered "thinking on these things?"




2 comments:

  1. I need to take up running. Not sure what I am so afraid of.

    It isn't easy being positive but I think that I am finally in a place in my life that it has become so much easier. I know that it is all Gods doing. The more time I spend in prayer and word the better I have become. I hardly ever harvest negative thoughts anymore.

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  2. There's so much negative out there and it's so easy to focus on the ugly, but THIS says it all: "My morning run reminds me to enjoy God's beauty and think on positive things."


    DITTO!

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