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."
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Plenty of us have heard this verse in church or read it in inspirational quotes. But have you ever broken it down and really took captive of what this verse is saying? It's a lot more than just saying "run to win."
In a lot of similar ways like comparing your walk with God the way an Olympian would train for the Olympics. Think about it.
An Olympian is a uniquely qualified and a chosen athlete to represent their country in front of the entire world much like we are uniquely chosen to represent Christ to the world in different ways. What is an Olympians main goal when competing for their country? Is it just to be able to say they competed? Or is it just to be looked at and feel like they are something greatest because they can say "I'm an Olympian"? No. Their goal is to make their country proud. To go out in front of the world in the best shape of their life with hundreds of collected hours in preparation for that race. So that when they run, they run knowing without a doubt they are giving it all they have and that they can obtain that Gold Medal. It's that 'can do' and the 'I will do attitude.'
Like an Olympian, God has chosen YOU to represent Him in front of the entire world. You have been given the opportunity to go out and show the world what you're capable of because of God who is inside you.
If you were chosen for the Olympics, would you not train every single day, eat right, sleep right, get yourself personal trainers, motivators, get your mind right, practicing daily until you go out to compete? If you asked me, I would. I would choose to do my best because I was chosen for what was seen in me. God sees that same potential in you. If you say no, then you're truthfully holding yourself back from a life full of greatness.
Just as you would prepare for these famous world renown games, you need to be preparing your heart, spirit, mind and body for God.
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." Benjamin Franklin
Ephesians 6:13 "Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm."
If you trained in your faith like an athlete trains for the Olympics you would have an unstoppable relationship with God. You would have a relentless passion for being all God has called you to be.
It's obvious that we are a mess in our flesh, but in our spirit we are strong. You have to exercise your faith daily by prayer in the renewing of your mind and spirit in the Word. Just as you diet for sports training by eating the right foods. Spiritually you need to feed yourself only what is well with the Lord. You don't need to consume toxic things such as gossip, hate, unforgiveness, lust, being judgmental, etc. The list goes on and on. We aren't perfect humans, that is obvious but we can still control what we do and how we feed our spirit.
It's time to get serious with your faith. Like Shia Lebeouf says "Just Do it, Yesterday you said tomorrow, DO IT" It's funny, but it's so true. Stop talking about how you're going to get yourself back In Church. DO IT. Stop saying, you're going to start tithing, DO IT. Stop saying you're going to pray and read your Bible every day. JUST DO IT.
It's so simple, it's stupid.
If you saw an Olympian make it halfway through a race then run out of breath and then stopped running, it would be easy to see how unprepared they would be. That rarely happens because they wholeheartedly prepare, train, and give it all they have before any camera is even on them.
Ask yourself. How would you look right now if God put you on the track and said, "now run." Have you been training? Have you been dieting right? Have you been preparing? If the answer is no. Today's the day to make the change. It's not ever going to be easy. It's going to be hard, it's going to suck sometimes. Don't you forget that God is with you, he will never forsake you. You can do it, I believe in you. God believes in you. It's time that you believe in you.
