How to Keep Running To Win

When I was about eight years old I participated in my first jog-a-thon. I really didn’t understand the concept. I actually thought it was a competition.

As I rand around the small track and hearing my Nana yell my name. “Go Zac! You can do it,” she said. The moment I heard her voice I started running faster. I was determined to beat everyone.

My hopes and dreams of being a track star were shattered when I didn’t win! In fact, no one did.

I’m so glad that our life isn’t a jog-a-thon. We are in a race and we’re running to win. We are running to win a prize God has specially designed just for us.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 reminds us of this when it 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.”

Isn’t that exciting? As we run this race called life we’re running to win a prize, given to us by God, which will last forever. Awesome!

Here are three steps on how to keep running to win.

1. Run on the right track.

There are lots of people who end up running on the wrong track altogether. It’s a track of their own design. We need to make sure we run on God’s track and his track only.

2. Run for a purpose.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” We need to be careful that we’re not living our lives for our own purpose. God’s purpose must be the goal.

3. Run with discipline.

Let’s be honest. Training isn’t always pleasant. It takes discipline. We need to discipline our bodies to be holy to the Lord.

I don’t know what God’s reward will actually look like in all its fullness. But I do know that I don’t want to miss out on any of it. I know you don’t either.

So, how do you keep running to win? Run on the right track, for a purpose and with discipline.