I’ve signed up for a 10km run, not as something i’m dying to do but more of a group activity (home-group peer pressure 🙂 ). It still doesn’t make sense to me why you would pay to run as opposed to just making up your mind to run whenever, at no cost…but I still paid for it.

Moving on, I think I could easily do a 5km without training but a 10km would need some training if I want to finish within a good-ish record time…55mins (I’m beginning to think it an overly ambitious goal)? So i’m making use of an App. that acts as my personal trainer…It’s pretty cool actually. It tells me when to run, how often, how far, at what speed/pace, what to put on, how to think, as well as providing motivational quotes, tips on diet, posture…everything you need to know about running!

Nowadays we’re left with no excuses for lack of information, know-how or ability to achieve whatever we set our minds to. However, as much as the vastness of the possibilities, it still boils down to some good-old self-discipline to follow through to the end. I have to not only get the info. but to also literally get with the program!

It reminds me of Paul’s analogy of life when he says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

In this passage, he is talking about self-discipline; striking a blow to his body and making it his slave…picture that! Controlling your actions and reactions and following through step by step, irrespective of obstacles, to the expected end.

As believers, we’ve been transformed into the Kingdom of God through the enablement of the Holy Spirit (the very spirit of God) who lives within us. The Holy Spirit acts as our Personal Trainer, revealing to us the mind of God, His heart, desires, will and intent and enabling us to carry out His purposes on earth. We live from the inside-out.

Having the Personal Trainer’s influence come to fruition, requires self-discipline! Self-discipline in making sure that we do not live from the outside-in; that our actions are not based on our senses, emotions, mood of the day or worldly wisdom. Self-discipline to keep still and listen to our Personal Trainer and in turn do what He tells us, self-discipline to restrain from ungodly influences, self-discipline to keep to the spiritual diet and posture, and self-discipline to persevere to the end…we definitely need to do the same as Paul; strike a blow to our bodies and make them slaves to our new nature!

Jesus set a good example which Paul mentions when he says, “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God…”

Jesus Christ listened to His Father and exercised self-discipline; following through with the plan all the way to the end!

Let’s be true disciples of Jesus Christ and exercise some self-discipline!

1Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-2