Your Words Can Change Your Life
This is a story about the power of words, the short version...
I have always hated running, said I hated running and joked about how much I hate it.
February of 2017 I was sitting in a service at our church, Rhema, during Winter Bible Seminar. The preacher was speaking about a completely unrelated topic when God spoke to my heart and said "You hate running because you SAY you hate running." So about a week later (I was sure to get right on it, haha) I said "I like running." I will never forget the look on Gabe's face as he agreed with me.
I continued to say that I like running until August 25 at which point I had gained a real desire to run. I had spent some time reading about running and decided to go with an app that would tell me when to start and stop running. My first day I ran for 1 minute at a time for a total of 6 minutes. I felt like I might die. Today however I ran for 42 minutes a total of 5.1km or 3.2 miles!
This is not to say that every day I feel like running, it is a daily choice to continue speaking. Some days I tell myself "You are a runner, runners run that's what they do. You are more than a conqueror. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you."
FROM HER HUSBAND GABE: I can testify that from early on when first getting to know her, she said running is not fun and that she does not run. She used to joke that she might run if someone was chasing her.
But one day she decided to speak out of her mouth something that God put in her heart. She kept speaking for 6 months that she liked running even though the feeling wasn't there. She is an inspiration to me of her will and also of what is possible with God.
I challenge everyone who reads this to take the STEPHANIE CHALLENGE. God has placed something on your heart that you want to do or should do, start saying it out loud at least once every day for 6 months. Share with others what you are choosing to speak out. I remember when she first started she would tell many people: I like running.
What I personally am going to start saying is I like to go to bed at a reasonable hour!
Let the STEPHANIE CHALLENGE begin! Your words can change your life!
