Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
(2 Corinthians 7:1)
A marathon run is not merely a body thing. It is a mind thing. It is a soul thing. It is a spirit thing. This is especially true when a marathon runner reaches the 21st mile or so. At that point the body has endured its limit, and the mind and soul take over. Therefore a marathon runner needs to train the whole being- the body, soul, and mind for the marathon run. If one has only trained the body, one has done inadequate training.
During my marathon training, I would reflect on passages of the Scriptures related to life as a marathon journey. I find this very helpful, especially during those last stages of the marathon when the body has endured the maximum, and when the mind and soul takes over the run. I find that it helps me stay focused and sharp for the finish.
A marathon runner also needs to be mindful of what one eats- physically, mentally, and spiritually. Unhealthy food can lead to very unpleasant runs. I know of marathon runners who ruined their marathon, just because they ate the wrong food the night before the marathon. I know of marathon runners who ruined their marathon because they were going through emotional and spiritual lows in the days leading up to the marathon.
A marathon runner needs to be mindful of what one eats mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. One can set aside bad thoughts only for so long. In those later stages of the marathon run, when the body is all beaten up, a runner needs the spirit and the mind. Healthy mind and spirit results in a good and strong finish. Unhealthy mind and spirit makes the runner give up. I have known some runners to have given up because their mind and spirit was not healthy and strong.
A marathon runner cannot do this just days before the big marathon. This has to be a way of life. It must begin many months before the big marathon- at the beginning of the marathon training. One must cleanse oneself of all bad food- unhealthy carbs, unhealthy fat, and so on. One must consume good food- good carbs, good protein, and so on. One must take steps to cleanse the mind and the soul. Each training run must an exercise in cleansing the mind and the spirit.
All this will make for an enjoyable marathon run.
This is precisely what our Verse of the Day is asking us to do- “cleanse yourself from everything that contaminates body and spirit.”
A prayer:
Oh Lord, as I run this great marathon run, I come to you. Please cleanse my body, mind, and spirit, so that I can run this race well.
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