WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4th
25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
TIME, PLACE, PLAN
This week, we are looking at some different ways we can align our lives with Christ in the New Year.
We see in 1 Corinthians 9 that Paul uses the analogy of the Athlete to help us understand our life with Christ. Paul tells us that the athlete exercises self-control in all things in order to receive a prize, which is a perishable wreath. Similarly, Christians are to exercise self-control in all things in order to receive an imperishable prize.
Therefore as followers of Jesus, we do not run aimlessly and box as one beating the air (verse 26) but we do all that we can to discipline our lives for a forever prize with Jesus Christ.
Here are three ways to maximize our time in the secret place with the Lord:
- TIME
- PLACE
- PLAN
1. In your calendar do you have a specific TIME that you will meet with the Lord every day? The adage, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” is true here!
2. Do you have a certain PLACE that you can go to, to meet with the Lord? This could be a certain chair, room, or corner of your house that you go to to meet with the Lord.
3. Do you have a PLAN? What will you do when you sit down to meet with the Lord? What will you read? What will you right down?
Maybe think about it this way, imagine you are going on a date. A proper date, which allows people to spend time together, cultivates affections and produces joy has these three ingredients: A time, a place, and a plan. It is easy for us to overspiritualize our relationship with Jesus, instead of cultivating a real relationship with him!
Today, map it out–find a TIME / PLACE / PLAN!
Prayer
Our Father,
Thank you for your Word. We pray that by your Spirit, 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 would change us into the likeness of Christ. We long to meet with you, Lord. Help us to find a healthy rhythm in which we commune with you in a real and tangible way this year. Father, we pray this now through The Son and By the Spirit. Amen.
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