Sunday Prayerathon

Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post by daughter Shelby, who will be running her first marathon in Arizona on Sunday. She invites you to join with her

By Shelby Dee

Three years ago, I was unemployed. I sat down and made a list of what I thought would be attainable goals. It was sort of a New Year’s resolution, but mostly an effort to be intentional in life. Up until that point, my goals had always been related to education. Do well. Get my degree. After completing all those degrees, I was lost. I realized outside of job hunting (which wasn’t fruitful at the time), I had no goals. I wasn’t striving for anything. And so I made a list of both short term and long term goals. This week is the culmination of one of the biggest goals on that list.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to run a marathon. Just one. Just to be able to say, “I did it!” I started training this summer. A few interruptions in that training pushed my goal marathon date back again and again. But finally, I resolved to register and commit to a date. That date is this Sunday, December 11.

As I’ve been training these last few months, running farther and farther distances, I’ve had a lot of time to think. Running has always been a way to clear my head, to organize my thoughts and to spend time with God. Out on a trail for a couple of hours, just me and God, I get to talking to him a lot. So I started praying each mile. And then I started calling this my prayerathon rather than my marathon.

I’ve put together a list of the things I’ll be praying for at each mile. I’ll be praying for specific people, but I put together a list of each prayer’s theme, and I ask you to join me in praying this week and especially on Sunday. I want you to pray for those you know who are hurting and who need prayer.