Running and Sprintwork x 5

Yesterday I was able to get another 4 miles in. Plus, an addition to my workout! I threw in 5 sprints, 3 being up hill. It was a gruelling muggy afternoon, but there was a drizzle of rain here and there along my run. I'm not sure how I managed to do that, but I did! I've been trying to hydrate a lot today. I've felt a little sluggish today, but I was out in the heat again, not running, but doing yard work up at my church.

3/4 of the way into the course yesterday, I also got a major sideache. I ran it out lowering my pace. By the time I got to my last sprint, it was gone and I finished strong and hard.

Running in the heat makes it difficult to focus and reflect. But something I read today in the Word has been on my mind all day long. I just finished the last chapter of 2 Samuel. In this chapter David was told to build an alter to the Lord on an area of land that belonged to Araunah, the Jebusite. This man wanted to give King David everything - the land, the beasts and even the wood to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. David had told Araunah that he wanted to buy the land even before he offered all those things freely to him. David responded to this free offer by saying, "I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which costs me nothing." The result? The Lord was so moved by David's offering that He stayed a plaque that was to come to Isreal.

Wow. How often we serve God when it doesn't cost us much. And then when it does, we look for a way out, or an excuse. Our passion and desire to love God, know Him and serve Him should not falter when it becomes costly. We must be as David and not offer Him things that cost us nothing. "God things" come with a price. As do "good things" such as wanting to get in a 4 mile run in the muggy heat, or finish a 1/2 marathon, or just get through a 5K race. Yep, "God things" and "good things," worth the cost - totally!