There are two pretty critical disciplines in my life: Praying and running. And they are not separate. They are integrated. Because when I run, I pray. And when I pray, I run. I’ve also learned a lot lately about prayer and memorized several litanies. Most of them are written by people who have more faith in their little pinky than I’ll ever have in my whole body. But I took a stab at riding one of my own. So here is my runners prayer.
Note: if you do this with the group, the leader can read everything in regular print, and the group can respond with what is in bold.
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Almighty God, You created the heavens and the earth. You created the sky, the sea and the land. When we run Your creation is our course and Your breath is our fuel. The legs, the arms, and the heart You have given us are strength we use. The Spirit of Your Son is us that cries “Abba, Father” is truly our power.
And when we run…
We run for You Lord!
Abraham ran to meet You when You appeared to him. Essau ran to reconcile with his brother Jacob who betrayed him. David ran to cut off the head of Goliath who mocked the God of Israel. Isaiah said those who “wait upon the Lord” will “run and not be weary…” At King Hezekiah’s command runners went forth to call people back and to the Passover. The lord told Habakkuk, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.” The prodigal son’s Father ran to embrace him while he was still a long way off. Zaccheus ran ahead to climb a tree so he could see Jesus. Peter and John literally ran to the tomb. John won the race but Peter was the first to see it empty. The disciples ran back from Emmaus to announce the mystery of the risen Christ. Phillip ran to the Ethiopian to open his eyes and baptize him. And the apostle Paul has instructed us to not “run aimlessly but discipline our body and keep it under control.”
And when we run…
We run for You Lord!
Our prize is not a trophy. Our prize is not displayed on a stopwatch. Our prize is not surpassing another. The prize is Your glory, not ours. And as we empty ourselves may we find a renewed strength in You.
And when we run…
We run for You Lord!
Thank you for our family and friends who cheer us on. Thank you for our coaches and mentors who demand our best and push us beyond our capacity. Thank you for our teammates ahead of us who set an example to follow and those behind us who push us forward to lead.
And when we run…
We run for You Lord!
The life you’ve given us is an truly endurance sport. We are surrounded by a great a cloud of witnesses. Help us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.” Help us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
And when we run…
We run for You Lord!
Give us peace with the run starts, courage when we want to quit and strength when we see that hill ahead. When we feel pain, help us to remember the passion of Christ and every step he took to carry the weight of our sins. When we feel despair, send us your Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and our Guide. Help us to find new mysteries of faith at every turn, up every hill, and in every straight away. What we learn on the course, we can live out in life. Help us to remember why we start, where we are going, and for Whose glory we finish. And when we sprint to the finish line with our last breath and effort, help us to remember that we are not home yet.
And when we run…
We run for You Lord!
May the glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and evermore shall be, world without end. Amen
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