1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (New Living Translation)
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified
It is not easy running the race of life, and it's certainly not easier running the race of a saved and anointed life. Life in general (
away from the joys and successes that it brings) is hectic, challenging, expensive, tiring, tempting, tricky, full of surprises, demanding...and more! It takes a lot of faith and determination to stay in a sane and healthy place.
This scripture above talks about the race of life that we are all a part of and the decisions we have taken, or are taking, or should be taking in following-through with our course. Hopefully, as we are reading this, we know what path of life we are going in. And if you are yet to discover your path of life, I hope that you have at least identified what you are looking for. NO matter what choice we make, make sure that in the end, it'll bring us eternal joy and satisfaction!
Athletes run with the end in mind; however, to get to that finished line, they have to take one step in front of the other...each and every time, until the race is over. NO BREAKS, NOTHING! Moving at a steady pace is progressive. But if we run aimlessly, without focus or motivation, with no particular goal in mind, and no purpose at hand....then, we'll find that we'll waver, and lose perspective of what we are doing. It's at times like this that we tend to make adjustments to suit our present conditions, thereby gradually moving away from our first intention, and our primary decision(s).
The word of God tells us to discipline our bodies to do the right thing, so when we talk to others, we are not found guilty of hypocrisy! In essence, PRACTICE what we preach! Don't let the desires of your flesh win you over and overcome you. Trust me, it'll take you off track, you'll slowly lose momentum and slowly welcome habits and cravings that you will not be able to easily shake off!!!
As Righteous Women, it's important that we take life and our primary decisions seriously. DO NOT compromise what you believe in, DO NOT run aimlessly, DO NOT be one who is just running to kill time!!! Let your life and work speak meaning and define integrity! Don't be caught disqualified!!!
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (Amplified Bible)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [
your race] that you may lay hold [
of the prize] and make it yours. Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [
do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. Therefore I do not run uncertainly (
without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. But [
like a boxer] I buffet my body [
handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [
not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].
I heard a really simple, yet challenging teaching on Sunday about the "Race" we are running. While this is something that we are in some way or form doing, we hardly take the time to assess our journey. A lot of us have a goal in mind, or have a target as to where or what we want to be in life. The distance between where we are today and where we want to be, is what I call the "Race". The basics are obvious: starting point and finishing point, but the space between both is the hardest part. Some of us are currently in our starting point, some of us are somewhere in the middle or away from the starting point but I doubt that any of us are at the finishing point.
The starting point is where we make the decisions, its where we set some goals, its where we anticipate the end, its where we are fired up! It is here that we pick a purpose; and then train towards that purpose. Then, we set off! And we somehow shoot off into the future....and we then, begin to face different challenges, obstacles, roadblocks, crossroads etc. How we handle these are very critical. At this point, we might feel the need to compromise or we might feel a little bitter with life or the people in our way or both :). We start losing sight of the goals we set in the starting point. We start bending a little here and a little there. We start losing the grace of God, due to the seed of bitterness that we have allowed to germinate in our hearts.
We tend to forget that we are in a training season and the training eventually produces a reward, if we stay focused and unwavered. We start giving ourselves up to things that are not proper to our bodies; and to things that can and will contaminate our physical and emotional state. Before we know it, we are no longer training to win the race....we are now trying to run the race.
Training is beneficial to the spirit, mind and soul; because it produces discipline! Training teaches you to deny yourself of what your body wants, and only feed it what it needs. Its like a diet...you naturally want to eat what will destroy your body, but you really should eat what will help you fulfill your long-term goal.
It's just like in a race, the last lap is the most important. This is where your training is tested. It is the determinator of your training. How focused can you get? Can you hang on until the end? Will you give up and give in? Will your habits along the way, up until this point, cause you to be disqualified?
It's just like our faith. Our faith is always challenged along the way, but what will you do with that challenge? Will you submit to this world? Will you stay focused and stand your ground? Like the Hebrew boys in Daniel 1. They openly decided NOT to partake of the King's meal, as it was not appropriate for their diet. In fact, it was contaminated and they chose to decline.
Ladies, whatever goals you have set for yourself, or whatever life-changing decisions that you have made, or whatever steps you have decided to make; remember to stay on track...stay in your lane...as your race is yours and yours alone and MUST be completed. You cannot afford to be disqualified!
Self Builders:
