Getting Motivated

God is often teaching me lessons through running that carry over into my daily life. I started to write this post about motivation and ideas for getting motivated to run and workout. I'm still going to share those things, but I also realized that I needed a lesson in what motivates my life. I'm still working through that part, but I'll share what I've been given so far. 

First, how do you motivate yourself to workout? 
If you want to get in shape and think you don't have time or that it will be difficult, boring, or whatever other excuses you come up with...I can assure you that it doesn't have to be as difficult as you think. It's all about finding workouts you ENJOY! I believe it's important to find exercise you love, because otherwise, why do it? You are just going to give up if you don't really enjoy it.

Here are a few ideas if running isn't your thing: cycling, hiking, playing sports, swimming, fitness classes, boxing/kickboxing, karate or other martial arts. I'd love to hear other ideas in the comments below.  

Hiking with my man at Dunbar Cave

I also think a workout buddy goes a long way in holding you accountable and simply keeping you company and having fun together. Exercising with Luke is almost always more fun than exercising alone. If I'm walking, biking, or hiking with Luke, I'm just enjoying talking to him and not even thinking that it's a workout. Being out in God's nature helps too!

My sweet husband had his own experience with health and exercise struggles this year. In April, he was hit by an SUV while riding his bike on Memorial Drive in Clarksville, and ended up in the trauma center in Nashville, had emergency surgery, spent a few days in the hospital, and a few months unable to walk.    

A ridiculous selfie of us when he was in the trauma center. He wanted a selfie, these are my skills.

Recovering at home with the leg immobilizer and well wishes from lots of friends.

      

I enjoy cycling with him. Not as much by myself, but I did complete a 10 mile bike ride in his honor on July 4th this year. I also rode my bike BY MYSELF on Memorial Drive. This was a huge fear to face, but I believe in facing your fears. Don't let fear hold you back from living life to its fullest. When you face your fears you are experiencing faith. When you have faith, it's hard to feel hopeless.

Sango Firecracker Bike Ride for the 4th of July

Face your fears, conquer your fears...and God will remind you of the hope in which he has called you. Here is what we saw the day we drove Luke home from the hospital.  A beautiful reminder of the hope we have in God. 

A beautiful rainbow on our drive home

Hope is powerful. What gives us hope? What makes us lose hope? Why do we often have such a strong hope and confidence one day and struggle the next? I believe we have a very real enemy fighting against us, but I also believe at times, that enemy is ourselves. Today, my thoughts and feelings have been waging war on what is true. I woke up and wanted to pull the covers back over my head. I felt tired, depressed, and basically had a bad attitude. I immediately pulled out my Bible and started reading scripture because I knew I needed it. I'm still on a marathon of reading and re-reading 1 Peter, so here is some of what I read today, 

"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:14-16

I would like to say that I immediately felt a conviction to get my act together and start acting holy. What I "felt" instead was like a child who crosses their arms, sticks out their lower lip, and starts to throw a temper tantrum.

Fortunately I kept reading...

"Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear." 1 Peter 1:17

Uh Oh. 

"For you know that is was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect...Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your FAITH and HOPE are in God." 1 Peter 1:18-21  

Our feelings are so fickle and even though I read these verses this morning and felt a very strong conviction to change my attitude, I've struggled with it the entire day. This kind of hopeless, uncaring attitude comes from fear. Not the reverent fear Peter was talking about, but an unhealthy fear that discourages and tears us down. Fear of failure, fear of what the future holds, fear that we aren't good enough, strong enough, or able to handle what's ahead. This kind of fear can paralyze us from moving forward. It also is a lie.

Fear is a powerful motivator, but I believe there is a fear that motivates, convicts, and encourages us to fall down on our faces before a holy and just God. Fall down so that God can lift you up.

He is our hope. No matter what we are wrestling with, whether it is a physical obstacle or our own feelings, we can remember that those circumstances and those feelings are temporary and fleeting. The hope we have in God is everlasting. 

One of my mom's favorite Bible verses was Jeremiah 29:11.

Taken from Dailyverses.net

He's got this. 
 

My perfectionist husband created this picture