Running the Race

I just started this awesome Bible study by Debbie Taylor Williams called

If God is in Control, Why do I have a Headache?

I've been studying Esther and it has been just incredible. This morning I had to read these verses that Paul penned I imagine with tears splashing down his cheeks...

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24Do 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.

25 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.

26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

27No, 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.

Although this is a passage I've read many times in my life, I read them completely different through this Bible study this morning.

I love watching other people run. Especially the ones that make it look so easy.

I am not one of those people; after 2 minutes on a treadmill, my life flashes before me.
Recently we watched many athletes compete against each other in the Olympics.

They all came from different locations, but all had the same like-minded goal of ending their competition in1st place. Only one person would accomplish becoming a gold medal winner of each race, but each athlete ran with much effort and determination to get that medal.

In verse 24 Paul tells us to do the same thing. only one gets the prize...Run in such a way as to get the prize.



I know so often I just go through life and yet we are instructed to run.

Run as if we are are going to receive that gold medal at the end of our day.



The athletes that earn their way to the Olympics train themselves for days, months and years for that one race. When multi-gold medal winner, swimmer Michael Phelps was getting ready to race the commentators shared his daily training routine. Made me so tired and I was just sitting on the couch watching. His winnings demonstrate the discipline of his training. He is focused. When they showed him on TV, he had earphones on and had a set look of concentration on his face. He wasn't waving to his mom in the bleachers or texting on his cell phone. At the end of the race his
strict training paid off.



In verse 25 Paul again tells us to do the same thing. We need to be focused, we need to go into strict training. So what does strict training look like for a believer?


Determined time alone with God.

Just you and Him.
Prayer.
Reading His Word...memorizing His Word.
Staying focused on Christ takes devotion, dedication and determination.



Then instead of a gold medal put around our neck that will not last, instead we will receive a crown from God that is eternal.



Please take a quick second and watch the beginning of this clip of Phoebe from Friends running in Central Park. If you never watched that show, don't worry there is nothing bad. After the running scene you can click out of it if you wish. The whole thing only lasts a minute.





Paul said: I do not run like a man running aimlessly.

When I choose to sleep in and skip my alone time with God I look just like Phoebe did as I try to survive my day.

Spending time in God's Word is a must and keeps me focused so that I don't find myself running aimlessly on the wide path of life looking like a complete fool.


Verse 27 is what shook me up the most out of all these verses though.
Paul tells us how he beats his body into submission.

His flesh is forced to bow down to Christ.

OH, I love that!!!


I've shared before about an affair I had years ago.

When things get tough between Gene and I, the first thing the enemy tries to do is bring that up and I'll be honest some days it doesn't look half bad.

Some days the temptation is strong sisters!

BUT I have to beat the flesh sinful woman in me to bow down before Christ and not run through life being out of control.

I have to.

I can't write about Christ here on this blog and then go lay down with a man that is not my husband.

I know if I do I will be disqualified from the race and I don't want that.

Recently Olympian winner Marion Jones admitted to lying about using steroids while running and was sentenced to 6 months in prison. This was said about her at her trial:

"The guilty plea in this matter and the circumstances surrounding it have been a very painful and life-changing experience for Marion Jones-Thompson," said the memorandum.
"She has been cast from American hero to national disgrace. This part of her story will forever be one of personal tragedy. To be clear, the public scorn, from a nation that once adored her, and her fall from grace have been severe punishments. She has suffered enormous personal shame, anguish and embarrassment. She has been stripped of her gold medals, her accomplishments, her wealth and her public standing."

When it comes down to the end of my life, I don't want this kind of thing said about me because I chose to make poor daily choices.

Instead I want to hear these words come from my Savior's lips as I am held in His embrace:

"Well done, good and faithful servant".

Your life matters so much.

God has such greatness planned for each of us.

Live each day as the track star of Jesus that you are.

Get into strict training.

Cross the finish line of each day with much grace and with a bowed head.

And when that fleshly sinful woman in you wants to rise up and run the race for you, remind her that Jesus Christ is now your track coach and she needs to step back and bow down before Him.

Don't be like Phoebe from that video and run aimlessly, instead be like Paul and run focused.

~Many Blessings~