I hope you had a blessed time looking at the Celebration of Good Friday, the Passover, and the Feast of the First Fruits. Maybe even had some fun with the Easter Bunny. With what Christ has done for us we should be mindful of what we need to accomplish. It should push us to the boiling point, and beyond.
I Corinthians 9:24-27
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. 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. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 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.
Discipline Is Needed
Paul speaks of the importance of discipline. I don’t know about you, but I struggle with this. I do my best when I’m being held accountable, or have a major goal I am working toward for a certain purpose. But without that, it’s a different story. Oh, and isn’t that what Paul is speaking of?
Runners who train don’t stagger toward the finish line. Boxers who train don’t stagger but absorb powerful blows. But it takes “Strict Training” to get to this point. This is what Paul did. He set a great example for us. Don’t disqualify yourself by ‘running aimlessly’ with your life, your business, and the dreams and goals of your family. Running aimlessly is someone who is flying by the seat of their pants and struggles to make it. That’s what others do, but not you!
The Last Place You Want To Be
Not where I want to be. This is me with my fitness right now. I am just getting back into a routine. It is a struggle. I find my pace slowing many times. Things like not wanting to push the weights past what I have already done. Not pushing my cardio as I should.
I revisit this a lot and you may have already heard me share this. It is what my mentor Dr. Keith Gaddis said to me regarding taking care of myself, “The last place you want to be is on a stretcher looking up at your wife and apologizing for not taking care of yourself.”
And what about your business, your work, your job? You do what you do to reach some pretty Big Hairy Audacious Goals in your life. It is called the “Why.” Don’t forget your Why. Let it drive your discipline in accomplishing what you set forth to do.
Greatness is Cultivated
As Godly leaders of our businesses or work, family, and neighborhoods, we need to cultivate this same kind of spiritual fitness. In doing so, it will affect all other areas of our lives. How we treat others. Where we go for answers to major decisions. Skills we use for daily tasks, our attitudes, and how we react or respond to situations, and much more.
Challenge of the Week
What disciplines do you need to set in place for your life (Spiritually, Physically, Family, Relationships, Finances, Mentally)? Better yet, what are you willing to put into these areas of your life to reach your dreams? Push it to the boiling point. It might only be a degree away. So be it.
