I hate running. Absolutely hate it. Ask me if I want to play six straight hours of pick up basketball? Sure thing. But try convincing me to run to the mailbox and back and see where that gets you. Some people find running therapeutic. Freeing. And yes, it is great exercise. But it just isn’t for me. Unless there’s sin involved.

You see, when we’re talking transgressions, I lace up my Nikes and haul tail with the speed of a world-class sprinter and the endurance of a marathoner. I don’t do all that well with conflict, in the real world or the spiritual world. And so my natural reaction when faced with sin is to retreat. Hide from it. Hope it will just leave me alone and go away. We’re programmed that way, aren’t we? Most of us are ashamed by the sin in our life. It’s easy to just turn our eyes from it, or close them altogether. To run and hide. Ignore it and hope it grows bored with us and moves on.

But what’s the worst thing you can do when being attacked by something or someone? Answer: Turn your back. Once you retreat, once you give ground, you are toast my friend.

I opened my Bible tonight and prayed for God to place a scripture on my heart. To show me what I needed to see. It’s been a rough week already, and I am drained emotionally, physically, spiritually. And I’ve been running.

The scripture I landed on was 1 Chronicles 11:13-15. It talks about the mighty men of David. “Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a field full of barley. And the people fled from the Philistines. But they (David’s men) stationed themselves in the midst of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the Lord saved them by a great deliverance.

After reading this, I backtracked to Chapter 10 where it talks about the demise of Saul and his sons, who also fled the Philistines and were slain on Mount Gilboa.  Following their lead, all the men of Israel who were in that valley saw they had fled and “they forsook their cities and fled; then the Philistines came and dwelt in them.” It closes by saying that Saul “died for his unfaithfulness” because he didn’t keep the word of the Lord and trusted in sources other than the Lord for his direction. As a result, God also turned the kingdom over to David.

Feels like God is telling me that I need to stand firm in the face of sin. To hold my ground and look it in the eyes. Fortify myself in Him and fight back. Attack it head on. And He will deliver me. If I retreat, I simply allow sin to move into my space and reside. Take over. Assault me and those close to me. And my lack of faith will not only negatively impact my situation but also might serve as a stumbling block to others who see me running. It will not allow me to be a positive influence and leader.

My goal is to not go down without a fight the next time sin comes into sight. Not to give any additional ground. And definitely not turn my back. This is a battle I can win. It’s a battle I must win if I want to continue my journey.