Meditation on Perspiration: My 6 AM Worship

I’ve begun getting up at 6 AM to worship. Now I don’t mean that the praise music comes on and the house is awakened by joyous singing. This is a different variety of worship, a meditation on perspiration.

I have started training for my first 5 K in the last few weeks. This is not something I ever thought I could do. But our church decided to start a health and exercise initiative to provide community support for an upcoming half marathon festival that also includes a 5k and 10k.

My album of the week is Tree 63’s self titled debut. Every song is scripture. Right around the midpoint of my run, the strains of “it’s all for you, Father” keep me going. I know in my heart that this isn’t all for Him, yet. Some of this is for me. I want to be thinner, in better shape, prove something to myself and my family about what I am capable of.

But at the same time, when the sweat is dripping down my back and I am rethinking the whole idea of a race at all, the words “Earnestly, earnestly, Lord I seek you, my soul thirsts for you. In a dry and weary land, running out of water, God I long for you” have never had more meaning.

The weekly devotion for our running group this week is Isaiah 40:29-31.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

There have definitely been moments in my training when I feel weary and pray for God to renew my strength. That is when I realize this can be worship.

Our perseverance can be a form of worship, if we let Him be the focus. Let us all strive to continue in the race set out for us, clinging to words of hope and knowing that each breath is given by Him and for Him who gives us strength.