I shall run the way of Thy commandments, for Thou wilt enlarge my heart. (Psalm 119:32)
We were at our son’s boot camp graduation. The first time we’d get to see him was at the end of their marathon run at dawn. Families lined the streets of the course, each straining to pick out their loved one.
The crowd began to roar as the runners came into view, arms pumping and feet pounding. All of their training and discipline came into play during that last mile. Their faces reflected the struggle to continue—to finish the race. My heart soared as I spotted my son and witnessed his triumph. That day, he’d become a Marine.
If you’ve ever witnessed a marathon, you know what I’m talking about. Those runners, just like our soldiers, train long and hard to finish the course set before them.
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So how do they manage this amazing physical feat? They’re not born with the ability to run these distances, no one is. It takes training, months and years of discipline and sacrifice—and a larger heart.
That’s right, doctors have found that long distance runners have significantly larger hearts than the average person. This is a result of their intensive training. They need this larger muscle to pump additional oxygen through their blood to compete at this level.
We all have a race to run. God has a purpose for each of us, and it’s a marathon of faithfulness and prayer. But God also provides the strength and the larger heart to accomplish His purpose.
As we practice daily obedience and discipline, our capacity for the lifeblood of the Holy Spirit increases. Our hearts enable us to be used by God in His work. We too can become elite spiritual athletes, an example of what God wants for all His people.
What purpose are you training for?
