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God’s athletes
There are a several times in the Bible when living for God is compared to a race. (Take a look at Hebrews 12:1, 2 Timothy 4:7 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 for some examples.) In God’s kingdom, we’re not in competition with others, but we should all want to ‘win’ at fulfilling our own God-given purpose. Here are some traits that top athletes have which can also help us as we run our race for God: 1) Self-awareness. Athletes need to be honest about their strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to work on. We need to regularly bring our strengths and weaknesses to God, so He can help us refine our stronger areas and improve our weaker ones. 2) Focus. Athletes stay focused on the thing they’re aiming for, such as the finish line, the centre of a target, or the goal. We can’t fulfil God’s purpose for our lives if we’re looking in a different direction. We need to keep our hearts and minds fixed on Him, and on path He’s laid out for us. 3) Confidence. In order to build confidence and improve, athletes have to push themselves out of their comfort zones. God’s purpose will often take us beyond what feels comfortable, but as we push through our anxieties with God, He’ll help us develop confidence and trust in Him. 4) Discipline. Athletes need to be disciplined enough to stick with their strict training regimes, even when things are tough. We also need to be disciplined in what we say, how we spend our time, and how we handle temptations, to ensure we stay close to God. 5) A plan. Athletes go into a race or a game prepared with a plan of action. We may know God’s purpose, but we also need to ask Him for a plan of how to fulfil it, and the steps we need to take to get there.
What Now?
Have a look online for testimonies from Christian athletes. Write down any aspects, word or phrases of their story that inspire you to run your best race for God.
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