[Tuesday's Devotional] - Strict training is essential

Strict training is essential  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. 1 Corinthians 9: 25 [NIV]   Every year in January, there is a guaranteed influx of people joining gyms, or resolving to go running every week.  Diets are also started as a reaction to the excesses of the holiday period.  For the majority of those starting out on this path, by February they will have fallen by the wayside.  How many can keep up the regime of diet and training until December?   The difference between "strict training" and casual exercise (motivated by guilt, shame or a sense of duty) is clear.  Again, the crown that lasts for ever is the goal.  We need passion to motivate our strict training regime.  Most Olympic athletes train for at least 6 days per week and often for 6 hours per day – and this for four years with the goal of winning the race and standing on the podium (or wearing the "crown that will not last", a medal).   Are you a disciple out of duty or joy? Are you passionate in what you believe, and how you live? Can you sustain the strict training needed to complete and win the race?   Lord, fuel the passion inside me that looks to the long-term and the future glory which sustains and motivates my painful training as a disciple.  Amen   Dave MacLellan   Twitter Website Copyright © 2016 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!