“I shall run the way of Thy commandments, For Thou wilt enlarge my heart.” Psalm 119:32

The crowd began to roar as the runners came into view, arms pumping and feet pounding. All of their training and discipline came into play during that last mile. Their faces reflected the struggle to continue – to finish the race. If you’ve ever witnessed a marathon, you know what I’m talking about. These athletes train for months to be able to finish that grueling 26-mile race.

So how do they manage this amazing physical feat? They’re not born with the ability to run these distances; no one is. It takes training, months and years of discipline and sacrifice—and a larger heart. That’s right; doctors have found that long distance runners have significantly larger hearts than the average person. This is a result of their intensive training. They need this larger muscle to pump additional oxygen through their blood to compete at this level.

As believers, we also have a race to run. God has a purpose for each of us. At times, it’s a grueling marathon of faithfulness and work. But God also provides the strength, the larger heart, to accomplish His purpose through us. As we practice daily obedience and discipline, our capacity for the lifeblood of the Holy Spirit increases. Our hearts enable us to be used by God in His work. We, too, can become elite spiritual athletes – an example of what God wants for all His people.

So join me as I train for my marathon. Feel the joy that comes from a life lived with purpose and discipline. Accept God’s training and provision as He enlarges your heart.

Edie Melson is a writer whose passion can be summed up in three words—Speak the Truth. She loves digging in and finding out what’s relevant to her readers, whether the medium is fiction or non-fiction. Married 28 years, with 3 sons, she knows the world is constantly changing and often finds herself on the cutting edge of that process. As a freelance writer, speaker and editor with over 14 years experience, her byline has appeared in several national magazines and top websites, including Focus on the Family and Crosswalk.com. She currently works as Managing Editor for Centered Magazine, an online men’s collegiate magazine.Read Edie’s devotions.