10 Incredible Ways God Works for the Good of Those Who Love HimOne of the most encouragingversesin the entire Bible is found in Pauls letter to the Christians living in extreme persecution in the city of ancient Rome. Paul says it like this:Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.This passage brought me great hope for the first time when I was just a teenager and was experiencing some extremely difficult hardships at the time. And now that I have several more decades of life under my belt, I can say this passage means even more to me now than it did as a teenager. At this stage of my life, it is much more than hope. It isexperience.Id like to share with you ten amazing ways Ive found that God works things together for good in our lives, even when we wouldn't have expected it.1. He ProvidesOne of the most amazing things I have discovered over the years is that God truly provides even in the midst of extraordinarily difficult circumstances. And He generally does so in ways that I never would have expected. Many times He has taken me through a path of loss only to bring me into pasture of abundance. God gives, and He takes away. But I have always found that He ends up giving me more than He has taken. And most of the time, He would not have been able to bless me if He had not first taken away those things I thought I needed at the time.2. He Changes HeartsGod actually has the super-amazing ability to change hearts. At times he has changed my heart to conform with His perfect plan. At other times I have seen him change the hearts of others in order to accomplish His will in my life. The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water, He turns it wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1, NKJV).3. He ProtectsEven as God protected the Children of Israel in the midst of the plagues in Egypt, I have seen God protect my family and other Christians who have been in the midst of extreme hardship. There have been times in my life in which I have felt like I was experiencing a set back. But after allowing time to sort things out, I was able to see that God was actually taking me out of the way of a greater harm that could have befallen me. He was truly protecting me.

4. He EmpowersAnother profound thing I've seen over the years is that God has the ability to empower me through challenging events in a way that I never could have experienced otherwise. God will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6), and He tends to give us the greatest amount of his divine power when life is in those darkest hours.5. He Befuddles the EnemyWhen you feel that someone is tormenting you, and they just seem to be "getting away with it," you can dismiss that notion from your mind. Even when you cannot see what God is doing, you can rest assured that He is at workeven in the hearts and minds of your enemies. Justice reigns, and He has the ability to confound the works of the wicked.6. He StrengthensA famous theologian once made the statement, "Whatever doesn't kill us will make us stronger." OK, that was not actually theologian. It was Arnold Schwarzenegger! But God clearly uses adversity to make us stronger. The key is to run TO God and not AWAY from Him in times of trial.God has used trials to strengthen me over the past several decades to the point that I can now withstand hardships that would have crushed me when I was a young man. I am thankful for His spiritual strength which He has imparted to me through those trials.7. He Builds Your CharacterNothing purifies our character and motives quite like the fiery furnace of trials and tribulations. And it is important for you to know that we all NEED that type of refining. God uses pain to turn us into clean, pure vessels for His use.8. He HealsJust as God allowed Lazarus to die so that He could demonstrate His power over death by raising him back to life (John 11), at times God allows us physical maladies so that He can heal us for His glory. He is the Great Physician and has the ability to heal when that is what is best in your particular situation. And I have seen His healing in ways that have convinced me that He is truly in control.

9. He Develops Your WisdomI don't have an exact measuring tool here, but I would estimate that 90% of the wisdom I have gained over my last several decades of adulthood have come during hardshipand not when times were easy. When we are dialed in to God, He can use pain and difficult times to help us to learn about life in ways that we never could have experienced in times of bliss.10. He Gives Purpose and DirectionGod often gives us direction and purpose by pointing us on a certain path in the midst of hardship. God ultimately called me to pastoral ministry due to hardships that I experienced when I was younger. I know many counselors who were called to counseling after they had experienced seasons of deep pain. I know of youth/childrens ministry workers who were called to ministry after they went through difficult times in their own youth. God can pull you through the storm and into a bright new day of ministry like you've never experienced thus far in your life.God is good, and He can work all of the events of your life into a great masterpieceif you let Him.

jaredontv4 months agosince the day I said yes to Jesus Christ, I have hated my sin struggles ever since... but there are some addictive sins that I have a very hard time avoiding... Im a single 38 year old guy that lives alone with no family around anymore... masturbation is a huge struggle for me, and it scares the hell out of me when some theologians say that Im not saved as a result of certain addictions that still remain in me..Aron Holmes3 months agoJared.. when you have a true repentance of the heart and ask for the forgiveness of God, He casts your sins as far as the east is from the west, He blots out your transgressions! Never to remember them again. Read Psalm 51! Father God, please give my Brother in Christ strength to overcome these temptations, Lord Jesus, please take them away from him. Thank you, In your name Jesus, Amen! Glory to God

Ideal Candidates:This plan is geared for someone who has been exercising at least four times a week for at least two months, averaging at least nine miles a week with a long run of three miles. Before you start this plan you should be able to run 30 minutes without stopping.Plan length:8 weeksWeekly routine:4 workouts, 1 day rest, 2 optional cross-training or rest daysWeekly Mileage:8.5 miles-12.5 milesLong Runs:3 miles-4.5 milesQuality workouts:Hills; Fartlek (loosely-structured speedwork that can be done on a track, road, or treadmill.How to Run a Faster 5K

You've been running regularly for some time and have completed a few 5K fun runs. But now it's time to step it up and take this distance seriously. Here are some tips to help you beat your personal record when running 3.1 miles.During Training Add speedwork:If you want to run a faster 5K, you have to practice running faster. Coach Andrew Kastor recommends adding 80-meter sprints into your training schedule, and here'shis plan for running a faster 5K in four weeks. Remember: sprinting can be hard on the body, so make sure to start off with shorter sprints and build up to the full 80 meters, especially if you're new to speedwork. Add short uphills:Hills require strength and endurance, so if you practice them during your training, you'll develop speed and muscle power, and just as withplyometrics (jump exercises), hill sprints will increase flexibility in your muscles and tendons, which reduces your risk of injury. In your training, tackle shorter steep hills (about six to 10 percent incline). Sprint up for 10 seconds, then walk downhill backwards to avoid pressure on the knees. Repeat, eventually building up to eight 10-second sprints. It's a surefire way to stronger, faster legs. Incorporate strength training moves that target your shins, calves, quads, glutes, and core:Running alone won't increase your speed. You need to strengthen the muscles that make you move so your actions will be more powerful and more efficient. Incorporate variations of squats, lunges, step-ups, calf raises, bent over rows Become familiar with the route:Obtain a map of the 5K course, and if the route is open (like in a neighborhood or wooded trail), practice running it to familiarize yourself with the hills, curves, and mile markers. Knowing the course in advance will give you confidence and an added advantage over runners who are running it for the first time.

On Race Day Nourish and hydrate: Eat a low-fiber meal that contains protein and easily digestible carbs. Make sure it'sunder 200 calories and eaten one to two hours before you run. My favorite is peanut butter on a banana, but find what works for you. Drink14 to 20 ounces of fluid two to three hours before you run. Warm Up:It may only be 3.1 miles, but if youwarm up with some brisk walking or light jogging 25 minutes before the race, you'll not only prevent injury, but your muscles will also be ready to go once the race begins. Start out strong:That's right. Recentresearch shows that approaching the first part of the race at a slightly fasterthan your normal pace will actually result in a shorter overall time. For uphills:Proper form is key. Keep your head and chest upright and your shoulders and hands relaxed (no clenched fists). Take shorter strides and push off and up, not into the hill to add spring to your movements, while keeping your feet close to the ground. Don't make your legs do all the work pump your arms to add power to each step. Gaze up the hill to where you're going rather than at the ground. It helps you see the progress you're making, which motivates you to keep going. Tackle the first two-thirds of the hill at a slower, relaxed pace, and then accelerate toward the end. For downhills:Use gravity here and allow your body to take a longer stride with each step. Relax your leg muscles and focus on leaning forward into the hill and landing softly to avoid jarring your knees and other joints. For flats:Focus on moving efficiently and with minimal effort. You can achieve this by shifting your shoulders slightly in front of your hips, allowing gravity to naturally pull you forward. Capitalize on this forward momentum to conserve energy while increasing your pace on flat sections of the race without much muscular effort. For curves:Pay attention to turns in the course and move over as soon as possible to hug the curves, shortening the distance. Finish strong:Knowing the course is extremely helpful as miles aren't always marked on 5Ks. Take a negative split approach to the race, which means once you hit the halfway mark, begin to pick up the pace (passing runners will give you an added boost of confidence). For the last quarter mile, go for the gold and sprint to the finish line.

WEEK 1

Monday: 2-4 miles easy runningTuesday: Off/Total restWednesday: 2-4 miles easy running, plus 4-6x 80 meter sprintsThursday: Cross-train 45-60 minutes, easy to moderate effortFriday: 2-4 miles easy runningSaturday: Off/Total restSunday: 3-5 miles easy running, plus 4-6x 80 meter sprints

Notes: Be consistent with training. Run easy 3 times this week. Try and run on dirt paths.

WEEK 2

Monday: Cross-train 45-60 minutes easy to moderate effortTuesday: 2 mile warmup, 4 x 1/2 mile at a moderate/hard effort with 3 minutes recovery jog between reps, 2 mile cooldownWednesday: 3-5 miles of easy running plus 4-6 x 80 meter sprintsThursday: Cross-train 45-60 minutes easy to moderate effortFriday: Off/Total restSaturday: 2 mile warmup, 3 x 1 mile repeats at a moderate to hard effort with 3 minutes recovery jog between repeats, 2 mile cooldownSunday: 4-6 miles of easy running

Notes: Adding in repeats will help elevate your speed and fitness level.

WEEK 3

Monday: Cross-train 45-60 minutes easy to moderate effortTuesday: 2 mile warmup, 2 x 1 mile at a moderate/hard effort with 2 minutes recovery jog between reps, then 4 x 1/2 mile at a moderate/hard effort, 2 mile cooldownWednesday: 4-5 miles of easy running plus 4-6 x 80 meter sprintsThursday: Off/Total restFriday: 3-4 miles of easy running plus 4-6 x 80 meter sprintsSaturday: 2 mile warmup, 2 x 1.5 mile repeats at a moderate to hard effort with 3 minutes recovery jog between repeats, 2 mile cooldownSunday: 5-7 miles of easy running

Notes: Biggest training week, running 5 times. Be sure to eat at least 60 minutes before you run.

WEEK 4

Monday: Cross-train 45-60 minutes easy to moderate effortTuesday: 3-5 miles of easy running plus 4-6 x 80 meter sprintsWednesday: 2 mile warmup, 6 x 1/2 mile at a moderate/hard effort with 2 minutes recovery jog between reps, 2 mile cooldownThursday: 3-4 miles of easy running plus 4-6 x 80 meter sprintsFriday: Off/Total restSaturday: Race day!Sunday: Off/Total rest

Notes: It's important to "taper" this week, you have a fun weekend ahead!