This morning the alarm clock went off at the bright and early hour of five AM. Many of you know that I have been on a campaign to level the playing field when it comes to my age. To try and become stronger so that my number of years won’t get to dictate how I feel and the things I choose to do. I know it will eventually happen, but I want to stall the aging process as long as I can. So, I started a workout program that lasts for one hundred and twenty days. One. Hundred. Twenty. The half way point is just a few days away and I can feel every single muscle in my forty something year old frame.

It hurts.

It all hurts. I am not even going to try and put a positive spin on it. My knee hurts, my calf cramps up spontaneously. This comes without warning and has caused a sudden need to sit, like wherever I may be at that moment kind of sit. My ankle is sore and, strangely enough, my big toes hurt. I know, weird, huh? But, while all of this hurt is happening, I am discovering something.

I am getting stronger.

I am half way through the program and I am seeing positive change. It has come with a price, that’s for sure. But, the lady on the video keeps telling me that all my aches and pains will be worth it, and I believe her. I must, or I wouldn’t keep turning off the alarm clock and dragging myself out of bed.

Two mornings ago I nearly gave up. My husband woke me up and I laid there and all I could think was, “I can’t do this, I just can’t. Too tired, too sore, I’m so done. The results are just not happening fast enough.” But, with his encouragement, and because I’ve come so far without giving up, I decided to get up. And you know what?

I made it.

I didn’t die, I didn’t fall out from exhaustion, I didn’t cry (I really wanted too.), and I didn’t quit. I made it over the hurdle of that tough morning and the last couple have been more bearable. In the middle of all this I am learning some life lessons about courage, tenacity, stamina and guts.

I recently read a post that struck me right between the eyes. She basically said that in order to fully live and really capture our calling that we must be fit and strong. In order to do our best, we must be at our best. That has replayed over and over in my mind. I want to be the best I can be in the few years God leaves me on this planet.

I want to squeeze every ounce of living out of these days; they go by quickly.

I am praying that these very practical lessons I am learning about self-control, mind over matter, etc. will spill over into my emotional and spiritual life. The same tenacity and stamina that helps me to survive when my video trainer says “you can do it, one more set,” will resonate in my mind when I am facing a spiritual challenge or an emotional test.

I’m getting stronger, one painful, powerful video segment at a time. Feeling stronger one painful life experience at a time. And when I feel like it’s not worth it and I can’t keep loving, forgiving, helping, or (insert your personal struggle here) I will dig deep and do it anyway, one more time, one more set.

Because I believe Him when He tells me I am going to be better and it will all be worth it.

Daily training, daily strengthening and daily fulfilment.   Because who doesn’t love the feeling of accomplishing a goal? I’m half way there. Halfway. I feel like that is worth celebrating.

Now, excuse me while I have a piece of chocolate cake.

Prayer: Father, Help us to keep getting up each day putting our best foot forward. Even when it’s hard, maybe even especially when it is hard, help us to journey on. Show us how to exercise our muscles of courage and faith. To do the hard work when no one is looking and it would be so much easier to just quit. Only You can give us the strength we need to do any of these things, so we ask for Your supernatural strength today. Shine through us, Father, and make us strong. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Scripture: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9