” You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one wins the prize, don’t you? You must run in such a way that you may be victorious. Everyone who enters an athletic contest practices self-control in everything. They do it to win a wreath (Prize) that withers away, but we run to win a prize that never fades. That is the way I run, with a clear goal in mind. That is the way I fight, not like someone shadow boxing. No, I keep on disciplining my body, making it serve me…”
1 Cor 9:24-27(ISV)
This portion of scripture reveals great principles for success in anything. I would like to bring your attention to phrases like ” Race, Run, Win, Prize, Victorious; Everyone, Contest, Practice, Self-control in everything, Clear Goal in mind, way I fight, Keep on, disciplining my body, making it serve me” I could write a devotional on each every phrase above. The purpose of all the fighting, racing, and disciplining and all that subduing of the body Paul did was for the purpose of being victorious in attaining a clear goal. Paul had a very clear goal. It’s sad that folks can go to school 5 years in college without a clear goal. Many live all their lives without a clear goal, and there is no wasted life than this. Wasted days are the seeds of a wasted life.
It is not enough to run. You must run towards a definite goal, and not only that, you must do everything you can to win. Folks do things without the determination to win, and that’s the reason for all the failure and mediocrity that is among men of ability. Put in your best into what you do, and you will only know success. Sowing mediocrity will never give you a harvest of excellence. The quality of your seed determines your harvest. Anything you want to see or become, train for it, start running now. Things won’t fall on you like ripe cherries. Train yourself for victory.
Paul talks of a “clear goal in mind” because until your mind carries with it the vision of success, you may never be inspired to act. Without bringing yourself under some discipline,success will elude you. There are things I don’t do as a personal policy, there are also things that are compulsory for me to do for the things I am set for. Nobody will ever come to enforce these things on me and force me to be victorious,not even God can. I asked the Lord to force me to do his will but he told me that it is only the devil who forces people and he said to me if he would force people to do his will, he would have forced every sinner Jesus died for to be saved. There are things even God can’t do for you. For example; God has determined that YOU make your way prosperous and has shown you how. It’s your choice to do those things that will see you at that top level or down in the pit. If you ever do anything, put your best. In your race,run to be nothing but the best,run not just to participate,run to be victorious. Start where you are and keep on running for the prize .
