February 21, 2023
Prepare Your Mentally Like an Athlete!
Paul said, ‘we are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live in constant danger of death because we serve Jesus so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So, we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.’ (2 Corinthians 4:8-12)
My child if you have expert skills, such as a runner, gymnastics, golf, etc. with a desire to compete or strive to be crowned with victory you must follow the rules. In any sports competition, there are rules, if you are competing you must follow the guidelines, or you will be taken out of the game by default – it’s the same in life. (1 Peter 1:15-16, Psalms 1:1-3) My Word is a book of instruction and if you obey My commands, you will be blessed, but if you rebel against My Word there are consequences. (Joshua 1:7-9)
Timothy was a Pastor in Ephesus who was very discouraged and even felt hopeless because members of his church were being killed for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and others were going back to worship other gods. Paul sent him a letter to encourage him to prepare himself mentally like an athlete competing to win the crown and be triumphant and he told him he had to follow the rules. The word ‘strives’ in Greek means a man involved in a tremendous athletic competition’. ‘Game’ means ‘competitive activity with rules’. Athletes competing are serious about their sport – completely committed to being the best in their field of choice.
(2 Timothy 2:5)
The number one area an athlete must prepare for the game is mental. Sometimes you’ve just got to talk to yourself! Paul is asking Timothy, ‘are you willing to be committed to winning the fight just like an athlete is at winning in their sport, now I am asking you the same question. ‘How committed are you in your walk with Me, the Lord Jesus? (Philippians 3:10) Is a little challenge going to knock you out of the race or are you more committed than the trials you are experiencing along the way?’ Paul was saying, ‘I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.’ (Philippians 3:12-14)
It’s the spiritual battles (tests) in life that reveal what’s in you and how committed you are to the Lord Jesus. Anyone who competes in the life of faith had better pay attention to the proper preparation and training – you must know the rules to be an overcomer. The word ‘lawfully’ in Greek means training and preparation. If you enter a game without preparation you need to be ready to spend time recuperating, because your enemy is planning to take you out! If you shine your light of My Word, Satan hates you, believer! If you are committed to Jesus and it’s your purpose to know Him and do exactly what He has called you to do, Satan takes note of your obedience, so do not be surprised by his attacks.
He may try to stop you by throwing big problems your way – if you haven’t prepared yourself by hiding the Word of God in your heart it may overwhelm you. Are you an amateur or an expert in My Kingdom? It’s time for you to change the way you think, prepare yourself mentally, and change your outlook on life! Get busy training and preparing yourself to win the Crown of Life!
Take authority over your thoughts and speak the word only! You have power and authority over your thoughts and every word that comes out of your mouth. (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:20-23) Prepare yourself like an athlete mentally for the prize! (Proverbs 23:7)
