I don’t know about you, but I can be a (bit) competitive (just ask my husband or anyone who has played a board game with me…I play to win!). There is no race more important in this life than the race we are running for the Kingdom of God. The stakes are high. Countless lives hang in the balance. How we run our race impacts not only eternity for ourselves, but also for so many others God has placed along our path. So, the all-important question is:
How Do I Win My Race?
I shared how to Avoid Comparison in Part 1, and provided keys for Running With Endurance in Part 2. Today, in my third and final post of this series, I want to empower you to run your race in such a way as to attain your prize, your victory! To do this, let’s break down 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NASB):
Vs. 24: Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
1. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
- Winners focus on the prize, not on their competitors. When I lose my focus, I lose my race. I create unnecessary stumbling blocks for myself.
- Write down your what and your why. What has God called me to do in this season and how is it helping me on my journey? Knowing where I am going will help me to maintain my focus. It also assures that even when the race becomes difficult, my drive will keep me going because I am focused on why I am in the race in the first place.
Vs. 25: Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable
2. Exercise Self-Control
- Winners are self-disciplined & purposeful. Everything I do must move me one step closer to my goal. My time and energy must be spent on things that help me reach my goal.
- Ask God, “What can I do today to be more self-controlled? How can I shift my energy to things that will help me win my personal race?”
- Creating healthy habits creates a healthy life. We each only get 24 hours in a day, so how you utilize that time matters.
Vs. 26: Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
3. Be Intentionally Purposeful
- Winners do not waste time or energy on things that don’t matter in the long run. What is my end goal? How can I work backward from my end goal to create clear, measurable, time-specific tasks?
For example, I am in the process of writing my first book and am working on building a platform to launch the book from. At first, I felt very overwhelmed with the idea of writing an entire book, not to mention trying to build a platform (I am more of an introvert than an extrovert, and self-promotion has never been a strength of mine). On my bathroom mirror I placed a scripture for almost a year:
Ester 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?
This word was given to me in 2016 when God had begun really speaking to me about the urgency of completing my book. I looked at this verse multiple times each day while finishing my 1st draft. It was my motivation to keep going when things got tough. It was my why.
I went from having only a few chapters of my book to a completed project, over 50,000 words! What seemed impossible only a year before came to completion because I created healthy habits and was intentional with my time. I kept my mind focused on my why and pushed through the obstacles!
Remember, if God has called you to a task, it likely feels impossible and overwhelming. Believe it or not, that’s a good thing! It feels overwhelming because God does not want you to do it in your own strength, but through Him!
If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not worth dreaming!! Just put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward! In the words of my favorite fish:
“Just keep swimming!”
Dory
Vs. 27: but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified
4. Persevere Under Trial
- Don’t disqualify yourself, and don’t give up!
Too often we run after things of this world, trying to be all things to all people. When we do this, we get detoured from our destiny. Don’t allow the cares of this life, or the opinions of others to distract you from your mission! Stay focused on your goal and remember the promises of God when the road gets difficult.
James 1:12 (NASB) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
I hope you have been encouraged by this series. I would love to know what the Lord has been speaking to you throughout it! Please share your comments below.
Blessings,
Katie
