Training For Life

I set out earlier this year with two goals in mind when I began this blog.  The first was to deepen my spiritual walk with God (becoming Spiritually Fat) and adapting a consistent healthier lifestyle by losing weight, eating right and running (Physically Fit).  As you can see from the trailing posts and lack of fitness updates I've flown through half year unsuccessful.  I truly intend and desire these things but have lacked the self-discipline to follow through.  I don't know if you've struggled in this area but it gets to me at the deepest level.  Paul said it in Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Then I came across 2 Timothy 1:7 and it says For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  There it was--God has given me a spirit of self-discipline.  The interesting thing is I've been trying to do this whole thing in my own strength--which will never work.  A verse that has been the foundation of my life is Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  I've been missing a key step to making this successful--full reliance on God as my strength. 

No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. I Corinthians 9:27  In order to do this I must be willing to submit my entire self to God's authority and allow Him to direct every step I take.  Similarly, as I take each step in obedience walking in His will for my life, the physical steps that I take will get me closer to my goal of running a 5k then a 1/2 marathon.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in 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."  I don't think about it very often but this life we live now--it is a race.  It is a race against time.  We are given only so many days and I can tell you that I have personally wasted far too many.  I do want the prize that Pauls speaks about in his letter.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Hebrews 12:1  I must be willing to throw off (get rid of) anything that prevents me from moving forward in my walk with Christ and achieving my spiritual and physical goals.  It means I have to take a long look in the mirror and be honest with myself.  What is slowing me down?  What entangles me?  What keeps me from running the race?  What about you?

Seek His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6:33