Marathon Training Plan

 

But Esau ran to meet him

      and embraced him....

            Genesis 33. 4

(That was not at all what 

  Jacob deserved or expected.

But this is how

         to extend grace

---unmerited favor---

to those who have

               done us wrong.

Run.

Set aside wounds and pride

     and run towards them,

a visible sign of both grace

              and forgiveness.

The natural inclination is

   to make them crawl to us.

But the supernatural

     is not waiting for them

                   to grovel,

    but reaching out our hand

          and heart toward them.

As Christ followers,

            we train differently.

Practice running

             in the everydays.)

O LORD,

You run to meet us

   and embrace us with Your love.

You don't just accept us

             in our messy state,

but You call us Yours

   and invite us to dwell with You.

Strengthen our running muscles

   and fill our hearts with love

that empowers us to heal.

Help us to realize that

  an act of grace towards others

does not just change them,

    but changes us too.