‘Don’t you realise that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should’ (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT). We run the path God lays out for us in the Bible. But why? Why bother running, training, winning, disciplining, and growing in purpose? Three reasons: 1) To know what you belong to. Unless you take control of your life, you’ll always live knowing you don’t belong to yourself. You’ll belong to whoever and whatever is controlling you. Discipline yourself to read something each day that will help you spiritually, emotionally and relationally (like the Bible) 2) To get the reward. Jesus is so kind that He even gives rewards: eternal prizes. He knows we work well with rewards. And what you reward in yourself and in others, you’ll keep getting more of. What you feed – good or bad – grows. Focus on the reward, and the work will follow. 3) To live in healthy self-denial. Sometimes, we work just because we know the ultimate reality: Jesus is on the throne. No matter what we feel, we can overcome, because we know the bottom line of all this is that Jesus is Lord, and He’ll receive the reward for His suffering.  

What now?

When you find yourself walking today, use your steps as a reminder to ask yourself: ‘Why am I doing this? What’s my reason, and where am I going?’