1st Corinthians 9 verse 24 -27 NLT

Happy new month! I hope this year is going well for you, and you are keeping your New Year resolutions. However, if you’re not, you are not alone. Many of us start well but oftentimes struggle to get to the finish line. We lose focus or faith, fear may set in, or we are just plain tired.   One of the scriptures that has given me a different perspective and strategy to keep going is found in 1st Corinthians 9 from verses 24 -27 NLT. In these few chapters the Apostle Paul shares what I call the winning strategy. Over the next seven days, I will attempt to unpack these verses and share some of those strategies, in hopes that they will help us get to the finish line and WIN!

·        1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT

·        24. Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25. All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadow boxing. 27. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Bible reading: 1st Corinthians 9:24 NLT 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

The first strategy Paul shows us is that we have to understand that we are in a race. It’s an invitation for you and I to live our lives intentionally. We cannot go about life and leave anything to chance; we are to live our lives everyday knowing that there is a finish line. One of the things I believe derails us is leaving what should be done today for tomorrow. The word of God tells us in Matthew 6:34 (and I paraphrase) that we should not worry about tomorrow, we need to deal with today, right now. I have a term that I love to say: “not tomorrow, but today.” I want you to go into this week telling yourself “Not tomorrow, but today.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, open my eyes to see and understand the race I am in. Help me not push to tomorrow, what needs to be done today, in Jesus name, amen.

Question: Can you Identify things that you need to do today? What is urgent for you to accomplish today?

Bible Reading: 1st Corinthians 9:24 NLT  24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

The second strategy Paul shares with us is that we need to identify the opponents. Everyone is running and only one person is going to get the prize. The question then is who is competing against us? I must confess that in the past I thought I was competing against my brothers and sisters, but a closer understanding of this scripture makes me understand that I am not competing against them but against some unseen forces. Ephesians 6:12 tells us “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” If I could change that verse, I would say “For our race is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” So the question to ask ourselves today is what forces are competing against us? For some of us it’s prostitution. For some of us it’s fear. Others, it might be laziness and so on. It is prudent to identify our opponents so we can make sure they do not win.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me identify the forces that are competing against me, give me the courage and strength to race against them and win, in Jesus name, amen.

Question: Can you identify some of the forces that are racing against you? Prayerfully identify them and ask God for the ability to overcome them.

Bible Reading:  1st Corinthians 9 verse 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

Welcome to Day 3, as you can see our daily reading is the same verse that we have read for the past two days. There is just so much to unpack with these few verses that we have to make sure we soak in all its richness. As we lean into Day 3, one of the things the apostle Paul was trying to teach us in this verse is that we have to be focused. We are living in a world and in a time when there are so many things that can easily distract us. In running our race we must remain focused on the goal and try as much as possible not to get distracted. If you have ever been to a race track or seen horses in a race, you will notice that the horses wear eye patches that are called blinders. These blinders prevent the horse from seeing anything else but the track in front of them. I believe as Christians we should also put on spiritual blinders that shield us from seeing anything else but the track in front of us. Oftentimes what we are distracted by isn’t as important as what we are distracted from. It is important that we stay focused.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me identify the distractors in my life. Open my eyes to see them and give me the wisdom and courage to remain focused, in Jesus name, amen.

Question: What are some things that distract you that you can get rid of? or spend less time doing?

Bible Reading: 1st Corinthians 9 verse 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

Welcome to Day 4, in today's reading, Paul tells us to make sure we have our priorities in order. When you study professional athletes one thing you will find is that their priority is competition readiness. We have athletes that train for four years to set a record only to have that record broken in the next competition. Paul was telling us that if athletes get their priorities right just to have their prizes fade away, how much more we who are children of the Most High God that have eternity in mind? Let’s focus today on getting our priorities right. There are things you and I know we need to get rid of that distract us and conflict with our priorities. Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV states “Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, I seek Your divine help in helping me get my priorities right. Help me get rid of distractions and help me know what to do at this moment in my life and what to let go of, in Jesus name, amen.

Activity: Write down the list of tasks you need to accomplish for your next goal. See if you can write them according to priority, and then work your way down the list. Don’t move to the next item until you have finished the most important one.

Bible Reading: 1st Corinthians 9 verse 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadow boxing. 

Purpose is a word that is thrown around a lot; but many of us never stop to ask, what is the purpose? Apostle Paul says one of the strategies to win is to run with purpose, move with purpose, and walk with purpose. He explained to us that there is an intentionality with every move he makes. If we want to win we have to know what our purpose is. The late Dr. Myles Munroe said and I quote “The greatest tragedy in life is not death. The greatest tragedy in life is a life without purpose.” If you are struggling to find your purpose in life, a good book I recommend is “Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren. When you live life on purpose you are more inclined to win the race. Even when the race gets tough, and it will, knowing your purpose can make the difference.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, You are a purposeful God who created me on purpose. Help me discover my purpose in this season of my life, and let every move I make be according to Your purpose for me, in Jesus name, amen.

Question: If someone asked you what your purpose in life is, can you tell them in a sentence? Spend time today discovering your purpose and writing it down

Bible reading: 1st Corinthians 9 verse 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

In today’s reading Paul tells us that reaching the finish line and winning the race requires discipline. Discipline is never easy and what separates champions from losers sometimes is discipline. I liken the word discipline to diligence. Diligence is defined as careful and persistent work or effort. When we are careful to do all that is required, and we do it persistently we have a winning formula to reach the finish line. Proverbs 22:29 KJV states “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”  If I could change the word diligent and replace it with discipline, it would read like this. “Seest thou a man disciplined in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” So if you want to stand before kings and not mere men, be disciplined in your ways.

Prayer: Father in the name of Jesus, I need You to search me and see if there is any area in my life lacking discipline. Teach me how to overcome lack discipline and grant me the ability to live a disciplined life, in Jesus name, amen.

Question: Can you identify areas in your life that you need to be a little more disciplined?

Bible Reading: 1st Corinthians 9 verse 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Welcome to Day 7! If you are reading this right now I want you to give yourself a pat on the back. You made it through and you are close to the finish line. As we wrap up this devotional, the question I want you to ponder on is: If you don’t win the race , what is at stake? Oftentimes it’s easy for us to give up on something if we haven’t counted the cost. The apostle Paul was very clear on what the cost was to him: being disqualified. This is where we take a deep look at ourselves and count the cost of us not finishing the race. For some of us it's a health issue and you need to stick to the diet to avoid further issues. For some it’s marital issues and if you don’t count the cost and understand what is at stake, you can lose the marriage. So understand that there is a cost to you not winning the race. The word of God tells us in Hebrews 12 verse 2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus endured because He knew what was at stake if He didn’t complete His mission. The question to us is do we know what is at stake?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see what is at stake if I don’t win the race, Give me the same strength that was in Jesus that made Him endure until the end, in Jesus name, amen.

Question: Identify what is at stake in each area of your life if you don’t win?