In It, To Win It

Good Morning!! I have a few friends that run,...for no god reason. Some of the them even run marathons around the country, to get a prize others don't really value. I suppose one might even be able to compare Christian life to a marathon,...it's a good long race that lasts a long time (God willing). But you don't decide on Saturday to run a marathon on Sunday. Marathons take preparation, vision, and training,...if you hope to finish. The apostle Paul says that we're supposed to do the same thing in life. We are supposed to discipline and train our bodies, as the race ahead of us is long.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.—1 Corinthians 9: 25-27 (NIV)

Our bodies is trainable,...but they will resist us. That's actually very exciting news because training and disciplining the body is worthwhile, also the scriptures say that offering our bodies is worship.(See Romans 12:1 and 6:13) What a great perspective to have about your body: It is a living sacrifice, an instrument of righteousness in the hands of God! THAT is a good reason to be joyful if I’ve ever seen one!

Practice is repetition, planning is preparation,...if we're truly "in it, to win it", then we need to be getting ready.

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O God, we are so glad that we can prepare ourselves to resist the world, and better ourselves for Your work! Continue to give us strength as we settle in for the long haul. We worship You as we change and offer our whole selves to Your will. Amen.

" Grace and Acceptance, to be known fully, and loved just the same,...that's God."