athlete in training

Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 
-1 Timothy 4:7-8

In order to excel in any sport, one must spend hours and hours in training. It is also true of artists and musicians. No one achieves excellence in any field without tremendous self-discipline, hours of rigorous training and a willingness to suffer great hardship in order to achieve the goals he has set for himself.

If people who have average abilities train hard to excel, how much more those who suffer severe handicaps. There are now athletes who have excelled even though they are physically challenged. They have disciplined themselves to endure great pain and have trained themselves to overcome their handicaps.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he used athletes to illustrate our Christian walk. We must train ourselves to be godly the same way athletes train for competition. Athletes must overcome physical barriers, we also must overcome personality barriers.

I was a timid person before and I do not feel good about myself, I felt that I was good for nothing. But when Christ came in my life, I realized that He is all that I need. He will be my strength when I am weak, my joy when I am sad and my everything when I am in need. And with Christ in me I am sure that I can do all things and overcome everything.

One of Satan’s primary weapons against Christians is the weapon of discouragement. Sometimes we feel that we are not worthy to be used by God or following Jesus is not worth the price, we lose our friends and jobs, we are misunderstood, we are persecuted. At times like these we need discipline. Study God’s Word for encouragement.