Training vs Trying (Revisited)

I'll be forever grateful to John Ortberg for his words about the difference between training and trying.  Trying is simply making an attempt to do something that one cannot do--the usual result is failure.  Training is making intentional effort over time in order to accomplish at a future time what one cannot accomplish now.  The difference between training and trying is nearly always the difference between success and failure.  I'm in the fourth week of my return to training when it comes to prayer and running. (For me the two go together, which makes the results both spiritual and physical!)  The difference I am already feeling and experiencing in both my spiritual and physical well-being are significant.  The key thing that I've noticed is that it's easier to get back in shape--both phyiscally and spiritually, because I was in good shape before taking a rather extended break from my praying/running routine to build our house and then to "recover" from building it!  What I've noticed is that the lungs have come back rather quickly, and that I'm actually able to run a little faster for longer periods of time than I could before I took the break from training.  In the spiritual arena, I've found that my prayers move more quickly to the "4th mile" as I described it sometime back, when I wait on the Lord and listen for His instructions rather than simply laying petitions before Him. 

I would urge anyone who reads my blog to consider areas in your lives where you need to see changes--spiritual, mental, physical--whatever.  Sit down with the Lord and plan a training strategy, and then implement it.  If the plan involves physical training and you're really out of shape, or have never done physical training make sure you get some medical advice before starting.  And remember--you are TRAINING not trying.  Don't go out and try to run five miles if you haven't been walking five blocks a day!  Training is slow, steady, PERSISTENT activity that OVER TIME brings about success where you have never experienced it.  Remember that perserverance is the KEY to training!