I can attest that the ENEMY had long whispered many lies into my life (and still tries) that I allowed to become truths. Two of those lies were:

1. You are too busy to pray

2. You are too busy to exercise

Learning about different seasons in a believer's life, I do realize and acknowledge that the present season I am in is a lot less "busy" than that of past seasons. But because of those past habits and lies that had become truths from the ENEMY, I still thought that I was too "busy" to have any sort of structured exercise and prayer time in my life. I could only see every reason not to. "You don't have a gym membership", "You have a toddler and what could I possibly do with her that would be considered "EXERCISE"?  Another thought in my mind was "I don't really know how to pray for others". Then I realized what I had been blind to for many years. It wasn't that I couldn't learn new habits, begin new adventures, or make commitments; it was that I wanted it for the wrong reasons. Do I pray for others to please them or to please God? Do I exercise to please myself or to demonstrate with thanksgiving to the Lord for the physical abilities HE has given me? These tough questions required deep personal repentance and quality time in the Word of God to now turn my focus onto the TRUTH.

A short while after this realization and unveiling of truth, I began to pray to the Lord for ways that I can be with my toddler and exercise all the while setting aside time to pray for others. This is where WRIST WEDNESDAY was born. On Wednesday I write names of those who have requested prayer either for themselves or others onto my arm and read out loud while I run. Never planned, never imagined, and never seen before, just prayed diligently that the Lord would reveal to me a clear way to incorporate all these beautiful desires together.

"Take delight in the LORD and he will give you your heart's desires" Psalm 37:4.

This was truly my heart's desire!

For almost 9 months now the Lord has provided Wednesday after Wednesday filled with the broken hearted prayers of cancer riddled believers, mother's of sick children, wives in fear of the marriage collapsing, men and women face to face with job loss, teenagers broken over SIN, friends living in the grip of anxiety and insomnia, and the list could go on. I quickly realized that the running I would do in the company of praying out loud before a Holy Throne would never be easy but should I expect it to be? I also realized what a privilege it is to go before a Holy God on behalf of others. And as difficult as it is to speak constantly out loud while running, struggling to keep a pace, to have some sort of normal breathing pattern all the while fetching my toddlers sippy cup or play toy that she chucks out of her jogging stroller, committing to WRIST WEDNESDAY is worth it all! I know that the Lord not only answered my prayer but revealed to me the everlasting beauty of the outdoors, the deepening of friendships for those who I pray for, but recently I realized that one of my daughters first memories will be how her mommy ran and prayed out loud to the Lord for others, now that is PRICELESS!

To God be the Glory for the mighty things HE has done with a wretched sinner as myself! I encourage you to also embark of the blessing of a consistent exercise/prayer life...it will take you places that you never imagined possible!

With Love and Grace,

Coach Monica

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* Individual results may vary.