Just One More...
Hanfordrose
Posts: 688 Member
I post this as a blog. Then, I realized that it also needed to be here...on a Christian Group, because it is a message about faith and our spiritual battle with Satan.
*****
JUST ONE MORE...
One more of what? That depends on you. What are you facing that seems to be too big, too much, too far, too hard...and out of your reach?
An MFP friend of mine, named Ellie, is facing the challenge of a bicycle race called the Diabolical Double. Even the name scares me. It is 127 miles, and much of it is uphill. She had concerns that it might be TOO MUCH for her to tackle...TOO FAR to ride...TOO HARD for her, especially near the end of that ordeal.
To encourage her, I asked her to ride one mile for "this old girl in a wheelchair". Then, I got to thinking about that request; and I wrote to her again. I said that I didn't want her to ride just 'any mile' for me. I wanted her to RIDE THE LAST MILE FOR ME. I also told her to imagine me sitting in my wheelchair at the finish line, cheering her across to her personal victory.
Bless her heart, that loving lady said that she would not only ride that last mile for me, but pray for me as she rode. Then last night, she wrote to say that she was going to call me from the race...just before the start of that last mile. Wow! I feel like I am going with her on that Diabolic Double.
Now, here is best part about this special relationship that I have developed with Ellie. She is a young grandma with a strong, athletic body. I am the old grandma in a wheelchair with bad knees. Yet...she calls me an inspiration; and I see her in the same way.
Today, I went to the pool again to swim laps. This is still new for me, since I only got back in the water about a week ago. When I started, 10 laps of the pool was a really effort; but each time that I go back, it gets easier. Yesterday, I even did 20; and today, I wanted to swim the last lap for Ellie. It had been on my mind all morning.
When I got into pool, I had actually set my goal for 21 laps...JUST ONE MORE than yesterday. As I began to breast stroke toward the other end of the long, blue expanse of water. I felt an ache in my right shoulder...then in my left shoulder. Oh, this wasn't good.
My first thought was, "No! I just got started. I can't be hurting NOW. I won't even be able to swim 10 laps with this pain." I was already feeling defeated, ready to give up, before I reached the other end of the pool.
That's when I remembered something that I shared with my friend Linda on Wise Women Of Faith...just last night. She had written a post entitled 'This Is War' about her weight loss. She used the words "physical and spiritual battle".
THAT WAS IT!!! :happy:
I was running up the white flag, before I even thought about fighting back. I was giving up...physically and spiritually.
The first thing that I had to do was acknowledge where all this 'crap' was coming from. This sudden negativity isn't my way of looking at challenges. I know all too well the no good, so 'n so who was putting this 'trash talk' into my head. The big fat liar himself...Satan was trying to make me quit...feel defeated and give up, before I could do anything else that might actually be good for me...make me feel good about myself. He thrives in an environment that is filled with emotions like sadness, defeat, low self worth and waits for every opportunity to steal our joy. :noway:
"Not today, Satan! Not in this pool...you don't!" I thought. Then, I reached the far wall of the pool and grabbed hold. That's when I said it out loud, "I REBUTE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST."
Then, I began back stroking to the other end of the pool, praying as went...asking God to see me through my workout...to give me those 20 laps and JUST ONE MORE. By the time that I finished lap 2, my shoulders weren't hurting anymore. As I reached the far wall of the pool where I had told Satan to get lost, I said, "Thank you, God." for every lap. A lady, tanning herself in a lounge chair nearby, started watching me and smiled. I think that she heard me.
Lap 14 seemed amazing, and I was picking up speed. Every lap seemed like a miracle after that. As I started lap 20, I said to my hubbie who was watching me from the shallow end, "This one is for Ellie." I swam that lap, thinking of my athletic friend on her bike, pedaling hard to the finish line of the Diabolic Double. It made the lap a real joy.
When I got back to Ed at the end of that lap, he asked, "Is the next lap for me?"
"No." I said. "It's for God. He got me through the first 20 laps. THIS ONE IS FOR HIM."
Yep. Today, I was able to do JUST ONE MORE, because I didn't give up...or find justification for quitting...or accept the idea that it was TOO MUCH, TOO FAR, TOO HARD or TOO ANYTHING.
It may not be 127 miles of biking, or even 20 laps of swimming. Your too much, too far, too hard might simply be JUST ONE MORE DAY of sticking to your food plan or showing up at the gym...or trusting in what you must do to get healthier.
Just don't give up or surrender, before you at least give it...JUST ONE MORE.
*****
JUST ONE MORE...
One more of what? That depends on you. What are you facing that seems to be too big, too much, too far, too hard...and out of your reach?
An MFP friend of mine, named Ellie, is facing the challenge of a bicycle race called the Diabolical Double. Even the name scares me. It is 127 miles, and much of it is uphill. She had concerns that it might be TOO MUCH for her to tackle...TOO FAR to ride...TOO HARD for her, especially near the end of that ordeal.
To encourage her, I asked her to ride one mile for "this old girl in a wheelchair". Then, I got to thinking about that request; and I wrote to her again. I said that I didn't want her to ride just 'any mile' for me. I wanted her to RIDE THE LAST MILE FOR ME. I also told her to imagine me sitting in my wheelchair at the finish line, cheering her across to her personal victory.
Bless her heart, that loving lady said that she would not only ride that last mile for me, but pray for me as she rode. Then last night, she wrote to say that she was going to call me from the race...just before the start of that last mile. Wow! I feel like I am going with her on that Diabolic Double.
Now, here is best part about this special relationship that I have developed with Ellie. She is a young grandma with a strong, athletic body. I am the old grandma in a wheelchair with bad knees. Yet...she calls me an inspiration; and I see her in the same way.
Today, I went to the pool again to swim laps. This is still new for me, since I only got back in the water about a week ago. When I started, 10 laps of the pool was a really effort; but each time that I go back, it gets easier. Yesterday, I even did 20; and today, I wanted to swim the last lap for Ellie. It had been on my mind all morning.
When I got into pool, I had actually set my goal for 21 laps...JUST ONE MORE than yesterday. As I began to breast stroke toward the other end of the long, blue expanse of water. I felt an ache in my right shoulder...then in my left shoulder. Oh, this wasn't good.
My first thought was, "No! I just got started. I can't be hurting NOW. I won't even be able to swim 10 laps with this pain." I was already feeling defeated, ready to give up, before I reached the other end of the pool.
That's when I remembered something that I shared with my friend Linda on Wise Women Of Faith...just last night. She had written a post entitled 'This Is War' about her weight loss. She used the words "physical and spiritual battle".
THAT WAS IT!!! :happy:
I was running up the white flag, before I even thought about fighting back. I was giving up...physically and spiritually.
The first thing that I had to do was acknowledge where all this 'crap' was coming from. This sudden negativity isn't my way of looking at challenges. I know all too well the no good, so 'n so who was putting this 'trash talk' into my head. The big fat liar himself...Satan was trying to make me quit...feel defeated and give up, before I could do anything else that might actually be good for me...make me feel good about myself. He thrives in an environment that is filled with emotions like sadness, defeat, low self worth and waits for every opportunity to steal our joy. :noway:
"Not today, Satan! Not in this pool...you don't!" I thought. Then, I reached the far wall of the pool and grabbed hold. That's when I said it out loud, "I REBUTE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST."
Then, I began back stroking to the other end of the pool, praying as went...asking God to see me through my workout...to give me those 20 laps and JUST ONE MORE. By the time that I finished lap 2, my shoulders weren't hurting anymore. As I reached the far wall of the pool where I had told Satan to get lost, I said, "Thank you, God." for every lap. A lady, tanning herself in a lounge chair nearby, started watching me and smiled. I think that she heard me.
Lap 14 seemed amazing, and I was picking up speed. Every lap seemed like a miracle after that. As I started lap 20, I said to my hubbie who was watching me from the shallow end, "This one is for Ellie." I swam that lap, thinking of my athletic friend on her bike, pedaling hard to the finish line of the Diabolic Double. It made the lap a real joy.
When I got back to Ed at the end of that lap, he asked, "Is the next lap for me?"
"No." I said. "It's for God. He got me through the first 20 laps. THIS ONE IS FOR HIM."
Yep. Today, I was able to do JUST ONE MORE, because I didn't give up...or find justification for quitting...or accept the idea that it was TOO MUCH, TOO FAR, TOO HARD or TOO ANYTHING.
It may not be 127 miles of biking, or even 20 laps of swimming. Your too much, too far, too hard might simply be JUST ONE MORE DAY of sticking to your food plan or showing up at the gym...or trusting in what you must do to get healthier.
Just don't give up or surrender, before you at least give it...JUST ONE MORE.
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Replies
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Spot on truth. I needed this today. Put words to what I am trying to battle and overcome. Thank you.
"He thrives in an environment that is filled with emotions like sadness, defeat, low self worth and waits for every opportunity to steal our joy"
Truth.
And God inhabits our praises.
The Truth will set us free.0 -
Oh, my goodness! I am so glad I can help you find strength.... and you are helping me find strength I didn't know I had. I was thinking as you realized Satan was trying to get you to stop.... I know I will have thoughts of stopping on Saturday.... is that Satan trying to make me stop? What purpose would he have in trying to get me to give up? Aha, I've got it.... I wage a constant battle with self-esteem and if I do this ride it will give me a boost; if I give up, my self-esteem will suffer. (Stopping due to illness, accident, or injury is not giving up.) Satan doesn't want us to do things we feel good about.
I hadn't thought of this. One more reason to keep going one more lap, one more mile, one more step.... to have the parting shot at Old Scratch!0 -
Oh, my goodness! I am so glad I can help you find strength.... and you are helping me find strength I didn't know I had. I was thinking as you realized Satan was trying to get you to stop.... I know I will have thoughts of stopping on Saturday.... is that Satan trying to make me stop? What purpose would he have in trying to get me to give up? Aha, I've got it.... I wage a constant battle with self-esteem and if I do this ride it will give me a boost; if I give up, my self-esteem will suffer. (Stopping due to illness, accident, or injury is not giving up.) Satan doesn't want us to do things we feel good about.
I hadn't thought of this. One more reason to keep going one more lap, one more mile, one more step.... to have the parting shot at Old Scratch!
You got it, Sis.
The Old Liar is a miserable character who wants company in his misery. When we do something that is good...is positive...inspires other...we are doing it TO THE GLORY OF GOD. When we give up, feel like a failure, take the easy way out...or just host a pity party, we are NOT in God's will. We are making Satan happy, which is the worst thing that we could be doing.
When I thanked God at the wall for every lap from #2 on to the finish of #21, I was acknowledging Him and GLORIFYING HIM in those small victories along the way. God gives us everything, including the strength to swim a lap or ride a mile. We need to honor Him in ALL that we do.
Start the race with a prayer of thanksgiving for all that God has done, is doing and will be doing for you. Acknowledge Him at every mile marker and know that He is with you and will give everything that you need to finish the race. He will be cheering for you at the finish line...along with the old lady in the wheelchair.
As for Satan, send him packing "IN THE NAME OF JESUS", before the race even starts. Let him know that he is banned from the course; and you don't need or want his 'crap' in your head, while you are busy racing for the Lord.
Love you, Sis; and I can't wait to hear that you have beat the Diabolic Double..."in the name of Jesus."0 -
WOW!
I "found" Rose after reading one of her blog posts, and subsequently this group!
I am in the right place! Your faith inspires me. I look forward to "meeting" all of you!
I cannot be defeated because I won't give up!
Blessings,
Shari0 -
Another awesome post from you Sue. You continue to keep me inspired!!! God has truly blessed you!!!0
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I know that Ellie is riding, as I make this post. I woke thinking about my friend and the Diabolic Double which is happening right now.
I can't wait to hear from her, sometime later tonight. I have been praying for her, since I woke up. I know that God will be with her.0
