01/11/2017 RUN TO WIN YOUR GOAL
I Corinthians 9:24-27 In a race, everyone runs but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I’m not just shadow-boxing or playing around. Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to.
1Corinthians 10:13 Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust GOD to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for HE has promised this and will do what HE says.
[Living Bible translation]
Summary
In I Corinthians 9:24-27, the Apostle Paul describes the need to be disciplined and to persevere. Paul also describes the battle that each of us must wage against our bodily desires to do things that prevent us from winning our goals. With regard to food goals, the body may want to overeat or indulge itself, even though it may be detrimental to our own general health. With regard to fitness goals, the body may become sluggish or demanding, requesting that we give full attention to every joint pain or discomfort. With regard to spiritual goals, the body may wants to become the center of attention, requesting constant stimulation (e.g. watching TV, creating anxieties for us to “fret” about) rather than allowing quiet meditation on the Word of GOD or cause us to forget to have simple FAITH. The body may insists on priorities that focus on itself (e.g. constant shopping, overspending, making money to buy more things, doing “busy work,” ignoring other people and focusing of one’s own needs and wants) rather than GOD or helping others. Paul says it’s a real battle! But, it is a battle GOD can win!
Some of the training tips that Paul give us include the following:
- Run your race to win.
- Be prepared to deny yourself.
- Aim for “the best”.
- Run with purpose in every step.
- Stop playing around---get it done.
- Be prepared to make the body uncomfortable—that is part of the training.*
- Remember, you are not alone. Others have encountered problems on the way to victory too.
- Trust GOD—HE is more powerful than YOU. HE wants the BEST for YOU. HE is EMMANUEL/IMMANUEL (meaning “GOD with us”) and HE keeps HIS promises.
*If you have a medical problem or an injury be sure to consult your personal physician about your exercise program, discomforts or dietary goals.
MOTIVATION vs. DEMOTIVATION
Motivation is the drive, the spur, the reason, the inducement or those things that drive us to want to achieve a goal or action. But, Just as we can motivate ourselves into action, we can also demotivate ourselves (with words and thoughts) so that we prevent ourselves acting or achieving a goal.