Recently, my wife and I decided to take up running for exercise again.  It’s been a while so needless to say it’s going to take some work.  But, I really want to get in better shape, so I’m committed to the idea.

To prepare, we downloaded a running regimen put to music onto the ipod, dusted off the treadmill, and committed to run on certain days of the week.  Her day comes and she gets up bright and early and successfully begins the training program.  The next morning it’s my turn.  Now, as much as I was committed to the idea before, this particular morning it’s a completely different story.  I know I need to get up and run, but when it comes time to pull myself out of bed and do it, the battle between what I need to do and what I want to do in that moment begins!  Thankfully, I’m able to fight (with some help from my wife of course) and make the move from bed to treadmill.  Once I begin the run, it’s not so bad, it’s the first step from inaction to action that was the big challenge.

A lot of times it’s the same when it comes to getting into shape spiritually.  I know that I need to grow in certain areas, but until the battle between what I think I want and what I know I need is won, then I won’t experience change in that area.  And often, it’s the first few steps that are the most difficult.  God can only do so much in us unless we take the step to present ourselves before him (Romans 12:1).  Change begins to happen when we take that step.  That’s not to say that everything is downhill once we begin (just like in running, we will come to times when we want to just stop and go back to the couch) but for so many of us, the one thing that is holding us back from becoming all God wants us to be is that first step.

So, I encourage you, take that step - it may seem impossibly difficult, but once we do, God steps in and the transformation begins!

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