5:16 Club, Day 11 - Reality and Routine

I must admit, my membership in the 5:16 club seems to be waning. I stayed up late last night watching TV curled up by the fire. It wasn't time well spent, and I should have turned in early. I was emotionally drained from my sister's bridal shower yesterday afternoon, even thought it was a wonderful time of blessing my her and reuniting with family. All I felt like doing was vegging and enjoying the quiet companionship of my husband and Megan. I'm wondering, however, why is it that my definition of relaxing is sitting front of the TV instead of going to bed early? Staying up late wasn't worth it, and I'm paying for it this morning. Does anybody else have this problem?

Needless to say, I didn't rise before dawn this morning. To make matters worse, I've been battling a headache since last night and it is now aging this morning, thwarting my effort to focus on the Word and Bible study. Thankfully, I can take an easy day and hopefully rally myself back into routine, beginning with going to bed early tonight and remembering to set my alarm. I'm also hoping that as I continue to pursue this 5:16 discipline, I'll see the benefits long term and also understand that life happens...parties, and family, and vegging, and headaches...modifying the routine at times, but not bringing an end to it all together!

The Scripture that comes to mind again this morning is to run the race...

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Thank you, Lord, for the hope you alone provide. Help us to run this race that you have marked out for us.

Because of Him,