Strengthening the Core

Hebrews 12: 1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Runners, I’m guessing that you have been told that in order to improve your running and prevent injury, you must work on your core. Strength training on the core of your body – your abs, glutes, and lower back – has been proven to increase your stability, power, endurance, and efficient form throughout a race. But often we don’t listen to core training advice until injury occurs. Even then, we may work on it for a little while but as soon as we are fit, core training takes a back seat to running. Each of us has time constraints and when pressed, mileage takes priority over all else.

Do the running experts tell us to strengthen the core to make us feel guilty? Do they want us to see this area of our running as an obligatory, dreadful time that we have to do? No, they call us to devote time to this area of training because it is beneficial and sustaining. They know it is critical to our success and they want to help us achieve our goals.

I hate to admit it, but sometimes I neglect my spiritual core as often as I neglect my physical core. Pressed for time, I choose to run through the events of my day and skip spending time with God. I do not set aside the time to pray, read the Bible, and meditate on His goodness.

So how does that work out for me? I may get by for a little while, thinking that everything is working out just fine. But then I lose my endurance. I cannot keep an efficient form. I become injured.

When God calls us to focus on our spiritual core, He isn’t trying to guilt us into spending time with Him. He calls us because He knows it sustains us. He loves us and knows this relationship is more important than anything else in our lives.

So how do we work on our spiritual core? The author of today’s Bible verse tells us to throw off the sin that entangles and everything else that hinders. He tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, for He creates and perfects faith within us. We are called to devote time in our day to Him: reading His word, confessing our sins, rejoicing in His forgiveness, and praising Him. Through nothing else will we be sustained. Let’s pray for His help in doing all this.

Thank you, Father, that you sustain us. You give us power, stability, and endurance to do all that You have called us to do. Help us to turn to You for the strength we need. Thank You that You offer it so abundantly and freely. Show us that we can only get it from You. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.