Run Your Race
Tuesday, August 17
Run Your Race
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24
Like many people around the world, I enjoyed watching the recent Olympic Games. The talent displayed and resilience of the athletes was breathtaking. There is always a story behind the training and outstanding sportsmanship. In the end, some returned home disappointed, but others will have been elated by their achievements, which were the culmination of many years of training, discipline and sheer hard work. Their moment of glory on the podium would not have been possible without sacrificing much in their personal lives, and without great perseverance. They would not have made it to the games if not for the discipline which came with preparing for this moment. The Christian life has many similarities to that of an athlete. Today’s verse speaks of running the spiritual race in such a way as to get the prize.
All athletes train to win. No one trains to lose. Even those who are not actively participating in the game but are the standby athletes they too train with the same intensity to win. Why? Because an athlete needs to have complete focus and perseverance. If they were to train as a backup, then they would think with the mindset of a backup athlete. Similarly the follower of Christ trains to win. When we flip to the back of the book we know that we’ve already won and so run in victory.
An athlete also has an awareness of the right diet to enable maximum physical performance. For Christians we need to give similar attention to our spiritual diet, making sure that we feed on God’s word and everything that will build us up, avoiding anything that would weaken or defile us.
Prayer for today: Father God, I thank You so much for Your strength and willpower You have given me. I praise You for helping me overcome the hungers and aches, the temptations and trials. I ask You to help me continue to see the bigger picture for my future, to continue for me to believe in greater things to come. I choose to believe in You. choose to look up to You at all times, not down towards the circumstances, even though You sometimes seem so distant. I know You are with me always and will never let me go. Thank You for Your unfailing love for me, through Jesus Christ. Amen.