"Do you 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. 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." 1 Corinthians 9:24,25.
In an era when athletic games were very popular in the stadiums of Rome, Greece, and Corinth, Paul in many of his writings compared life with its challenges and accomplishments to a game or race. Athletes main goal in life is to win the best prize knowing that it takes sacrifice, determination, and sometimes pain. They know that in the game you might win or lose, but the prize is important enough to keep them focused to stay in the game.
Jessie Owens won four gold medals and broke three world records in less than an hour. He wrote: "There is something that can happen to every athlete and every human being: the instinct to slack off. To give in to pain, to give less than your best ... the instinct to hope you can win through luck, or through your opponent not doing his best, instead of going to the limit, where victory is always found. Defeating those negative instincts that are out to defeat us is the difference between winning and losing - and we face that battle every day of our lives."
Don't give up on your dream. In the race of life remember that you have a Coach, Teacher, Helper, and Savior, Jesus Christ. He says to you: "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians
15:57). As long as you stay in the game, God promises to give you the victory.
Kingdom Declaration:
The LORD is my Strength and Shield, my Source of victory and salvation.
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@Dr Pat Francis
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