I'm privileged to be part of a small group of guys who meet regularly and are committed to becoming leaders of themselves, their families, in their church and on the job. We're using readings from the One Year Bible as our topic of discussion, and I'll be posting a summary of what we learn together.
As a starter, I thought it might be helpful to look at a few key reasons a daily dose of God's Word is so important. Here goes...
1. It shows us who we really are. (Hebrews 4:12)
Simply put, the Bible is unlike any other book. We don't just read it; it reads us! It's alive. It does more than inspire or motivate me, it convicts me. It reveals my motives and attitudes. Without it, I can't even begin to understand myself or what my next move should be.
2. It’s God-breathed and useful. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
You know what people have a problem with? The Bible's own interpretation of itself! No one debates the pure historicity of the Scriptures. In fact, nothing even comes close to it in terms of internal and external textual criticism. The problem people have is accepting the Bible's own interpretation of itself---that it is the inspired Word of God, that it is useful to teach, rebuke, correct, train and equip us. Admittedly, this is decision of faith, but until you accept the Bible's authority as God's Word the "usefulness" of it will be severely limited in your life.
3. It gives us direction. (Psalms 119:105)
Whenever you're wondering what you should do next, God promises to illuminate it through His Word. He doesn't want us wandering around in the dark or guessing about His will. He clearly paints a picture of His character and purpose, His desire for our life through the Bible.
4. It’s our weapon. (Ephesians 6:10-15)
Whether we realize it or not, we are in a battle. We should never forget the reality of a spiritual battle in our lives over our thoughts, our marriages, our families, our destiny. But how do you fight a spiritual battle? With the Word of God. In fact, the Bible is the only offensive weapon mentioned in Ephesians 6. It is the Sword of the Spirit. It's how we combat the lies of the enemy that would plant doubt and discouragement. Now, if I'm in a battle I can tell you right now that I want a weapon. Yes, a helmet is good, a belt is nice, a shield will be very important...but give me something to fight with! We would never dream of going into a physical battle without a weapon so why would we attempt to fight a spiritual battle without one?
5. It is our life. (Matthew 4:1-4; Deuteronomy 8:1-5)
When tempted, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8 that instructed God's people as they were about to enter the Promised Land. It recalls God's miraculous provision as they journeyed through the wilderness. One of the reasons God provided manna was to teach His people that He can provide for them any way He wants to, even if it means creating a brand new category on the food pyramid! The point? We don't truly live by our own provision, striving, or effort, but by every word from God's mouth. Our participation in eternal life is our daily decision to rely on and trust in Him.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Temptation Part 1: The Appeal of Temptation
Temptation is part of what it means to be human.
It's everywhere, everyday, always attempting to lure our heart away from God and hijack our destiny. Though we are all tempted, we can be profoundly encouraged by the fact that even Jesus was tempted. Jesus, however, overcame and because He overcame we can too (Hebrews 2:17-18).
Therefore, overcoming temptation is part of what it means to be christian.
Our victory over temptation is possible because of the finished work of the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus' blood sets us free from the penalty and the power of sin (Romans 6:5-7). This doesn't mean we are no longer tempted; it means we have power to overcome.
Looking at how Jesus handled temptation can help us better understand how it works to deceive us, and what our response should be. I believe tucked inside Jesus' answers to the devil's temptation are key truths that reveal the appeal, essence, and result of temptation.
Let's start with the appeal of temptation.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:1-4
The appeal of temptation is that it promises to meet our needs. It would not be tempting to us if it did not appeal to a perceived need. The danger of temptation is that it is outside of God's provision. In fact, all sin is our attempt to have a need met outside of the provision of our loving Father. The need for food is the most basic human need, and it was no doubt well within Jesus' ability to turn stones into piping hot loaves of bread. It was not, however, within the provision of the Father.
But beyond that, Jesus reveals the true nature of our need--it is not primarily physical, but spiritual. Although our needs includes physical things like food, clothing, and shelter, our deepest and most important needs are unmistakably spiritual. Accordingly, the biggest mistake we so often make is trying to meet a spiritual need with a physical substitute. The result is something like trying to turn rocks into loaves of bread. We must understand that because the nature of our need is, at its core, spiritual and NOT physical, it requires spiritual provision. We can never satisfy a spiritual need with a physical substitute.
This is why Jesus said that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word from God's mouth. The true source of provision for every need you and I have is God's Word. He created all things through the power of His Word, and in His Word is our very life. One of the things I've discovered as I walk with Jesus is that the temptations I struggle with are never surface missteps that I simply need to keep in line. They always point to a deeper issue. Behind every temptation and sin is a broken place in my heart that needs to be healed and made whole by Jesus.
The need is spiritual; the answer is spiritual.
If you're struggling with temptation right now in an area of your life ask yourself,
What need am I trying to fill?
What's the deeper issue happening in my soul?
What does God's Word say about having this need met?
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you figure it out. He will.
And remember, you can't live on bread alone.
It's everywhere, everyday, always attempting to lure our heart away from God and hijack our destiny. Though we are all tempted, we can be profoundly encouraged by the fact that even Jesus was tempted. Jesus, however, overcame and because He overcame we can too (Hebrews 2:17-18).
Therefore, overcoming temptation is part of what it means to be christian.
Our victory over temptation is possible because of the finished work of the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus' blood sets us free from the penalty and the power of sin (Romans 6:5-7). This doesn't mean we are no longer tempted; it means we have power to overcome.
Looking at how Jesus handled temptation can help us better understand how it works to deceive us, and what our response should be. I believe tucked inside Jesus' answers to the devil's temptation are key truths that reveal the appeal, essence, and result of temptation.
Let's start with the appeal of temptation.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:1-4
The appeal of temptation is that it promises to meet our needs. It would not be tempting to us if it did not appeal to a perceived need. The danger of temptation is that it is outside of God's provision. In fact, all sin is our attempt to have a need met outside of the provision of our loving Father. The need for food is the most basic human need, and it was no doubt well within Jesus' ability to turn stones into piping hot loaves of bread. It was not, however, within the provision of the Father.
But beyond that, Jesus reveals the true nature of our need--it is not primarily physical, but spiritual. Although our needs includes physical things like food, clothing, and shelter, our deepest and most important needs are unmistakably spiritual. Accordingly, the biggest mistake we so often make is trying to meet a spiritual need with a physical substitute. The result is something like trying to turn rocks into loaves of bread. We must understand that because the nature of our need is, at its core, spiritual and NOT physical, it requires spiritual provision. We can never satisfy a spiritual need with a physical substitute.
This is why Jesus said that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word from God's mouth. The true source of provision for every need you and I have is God's Word. He created all things through the power of His Word, and in His Word is our very life. One of the things I've discovered as I walk with Jesus is that the temptations I struggle with are never surface missteps that I simply need to keep in line. They always point to a deeper issue. Behind every temptation and sin is a broken place in my heart that needs to be healed and made whole by Jesus.
The need is spiritual; the answer is spiritual.
If you're struggling with temptation right now in an area of your life ask yourself,
What need am I trying to fill?
What's the deeper issue happening in my soul?
What does God's Word say about having this need met?
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you figure it out. He will.
And remember, you can't live on bread alone.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Get More From Your Bible
If I had only one spiritual habit that I could impress upon you it would be the habit of getting into God's Word daily. Nothing has done more for me personally than the decision to make the Bible my starting place and the reference point for each day. I don't mind telling people that without God's Word I would be crazy! I have about a zillion thoughts flying through my mind that need to be reoriented and renewed according to the truth of God's Word. God's Word brings clarity, confidence, and a deep communion with the Lord.
But where do you start?
Let me give you a couple of suggestions that have helped me over the years really enjoy my Bible.
1. Get a good plan.
For a long time I had good intentions, but no good plan. The result was a series of sporadic success and false starts. Often the only thing missing in turning intention into action is a good plan. By a "good" plan I mean one that works for you and helps you get where you want to get. For me, it's the One Year Bible. I love it! It's about 15 minutes worth of reading and includes Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs every day. This year I'm doing it for the sixth time. The whole Bible, cover to cover. It just works for me. I love reading God's Word and it's not because I'm more spiritual than anyone else, it's because I found a good plan!
(check out www.youversion.com for free reading plans you can download to your smart phone or tablet or access online)
2. Get a time and a place.
If anyone was ever truly busy with extremely important work it was Jesus, and yet He found a time and a place to be alone with the Father (see Mark 1:35-37). Jesus modeled the importance of finding a time and place. Should we do any less? If the Son of God needed a time and a place I can assure you that we do too. Find somewhere you can meet alone with the Lord, free from distractions. Make it a regular thing, put it on your calendar, and guard it like gold!
Go ahead...do it right now. When is the best time you can give to God? Add it to your schedule and don't let anything or anyone get in the way.
3. Go for quality over quantity.
When I was in high school I wanted so bad to have a great devotion time with God. I'd get up early before school, crack open my Bible, and eventually fight to stay awake. It was horrible! Really. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't focus. I was tired. I felt like I was failing God. Then I discovered a great little devotional called, My Upmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. It took me five minutes, and gave me a verse and a thought for the day. It was perfect for where I was at that time, and that five minutes of quality time with God was so much better than the thirty to forty-five minutes I was trying to power through before.
You don't have to start with an hour of prayer and five chapters of Bible reading every day. Start with one verse and a five minute prayer if that's where you are, but make it quality--time where you are still within and connect with your Creator. If you do that consistently, those five minutes will make all the difference and pretty soon they'll turn into ten minutes. Then fifteen. Then a half-hour...You'll love that quality time with the Lord and won't want to miss it.
So...Get a good plan. Get a time and a place. And go for quality over quantity.
Try it this year and watch what happens.
But where do you start?
Let me give you a couple of suggestions that have helped me over the years really enjoy my Bible.
1. Get a good plan.
For a long time I had good intentions, but no good plan. The result was a series of sporadic success and false starts. Often the only thing missing in turning intention into action is a good plan. By a "good" plan I mean one that works for you and helps you get where you want to get. For me, it's the One Year Bible. I love it! It's about 15 minutes worth of reading and includes Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs every day. This year I'm doing it for the sixth time. The whole Bible, cover to cover. It just works for me. I love reading God's Word and it's not because I'm more spiritual than anyone else, it's because I found a good plan!
(check out www.youversion.com for free reading plans you can download to your smart phone or tablet or access online)
2. Get a time and a place.
If anyone was ever truly busy with extremely important work it was Jesus, and yet He found a time and a place to be alone with the Father (see Mark 1:35-37). Jesus modeled the importance of finding a time and place. Should we do any less? If the Son of God needed a time and a place I can assure you that we do too. Find somewhere you can meet alone with the Lord, free from distractions. Make it a regular thing, put it on your calendar, and guard it like gold!
Go ahead...do it right now. When is the best time you can give to God? Add it to your schedule and don't let anything or anyone get in the way.
3. Go for quality over quantity.
When I was in high school I wanted so bad to have a great devotion time with God. I'd get up early before school, crack open my Bible, and eventually fight to stay awake. It was horrible! Really. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't focus. I was tired. I felt like I was failing God. Then I discovered a great little devotional called, My Upmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. It took me five minutes, and gave me a verse and a thought for the day. It was perfect for where I was at that time, and that five minutes of quality time with God was so much better than the thirty to forty-five minutes I was trying to power through before.
You don't have to start with an hour of prayer and five chapters of Bible reading every day. Start with one verse and a five minute prayer if that's where you are, but make it quality--time where you are still within and connect with your Creator. If you do that consistently, those five minutes will make all the difference and pretty soon they'll turn into ten minutes. Then fifteen. Then a half-hour...You'll love that quality time with the Lord and won't want to miss it.
So...Get a good plan. Get a time and a place. And go for quality over quantity.
Try it this year and watch what happens.
Friday, June 25, 2010
What Luke Didn't Know
Never underestimate the value of investing your life in just one person.
If you're anything like me you tend to conceptualize impact in terms of "bigness." We think it's got to be big to really make any difference. But how many times do we find God using the simple, ordinary, insignificant, and down-right embarrassingly small things to accomplish the unthinkable.
The truth of this was never more apparent to me than after discovering an important detail in the introduction to Luke's Gospel. I've probably read these verses dozens and dozens of times, but never saw it quite like this.
Luke begins his Gospel by saying:
Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
Again, in the introduction to the book of Acts (the sequel to Luke's Gospel) Luke begins by saying:
In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.
Ok, did you happen to notice who Luke is writing these two books to?
Luke is not writing to a group of churches.
He's not writing to a church.
He's not even writing to a small group of believers or church leaders.
Luke is writing to one guy named Theophilus! What we know as the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts started off as letters written to one guy. Can you imagine that?
We know Luke was a physician and a details kind of guy. In his own words he says he put together a "careful" or orderly account. Think about all the time, energy, and effort it took for Luke to write these two books...pouring over the evidence, cross referencing the eyewitnesses, investigating the details, writing it down, proofreading to make sure he got it right...
All for just one guy. Or was it?
Luke thought he was writing to one guy. He was hoping to encourage one friend. Yet, today it's impossible to measure the impact of his writing. Who knows how many over generations and centuries have read these two letters and been moved by them. Think about the significance of Luke and Acts on church history, the record of the early church, our understanding of the Holy Spirit. Think about the richness of parables and events recorded that are unique to Luke's Gospel.
The reality is that our world is different because Luke, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, decided to invest himself in one. What Luke didn't know is that, in obeying God and pouring himself into one, he was changing the world forever.
Do you want to make a difference? Do you want to do something really big? Do you want to change the world? Then find one person you can begin investing your life in. Let the Spirit lead you to pour into one and the rest will be history.
If you're anything like me you tend to conceptualize impact in terms of "bigness." We think it's got to be big to really make any difference. But how many times do we find God using the simple, ordinary, insignificant, and down-right embarrassingly small things to accomplish the unthinkable.
The truth of this was never more apparent to me than after discovering an important detail in the introduction to Luke's Gospel. I've probably read these verses dozens and dozens of times, but never saw it quite like this.
Luke begins his Gospel by saying:
Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
Again, in the introduction to the book of Acts (the sequel to Luke's Gospel) Luke begins by saying:
In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.
Ok, did you happen to notice who Luke is writing these two books to?
Luke is not writing to a group of churches.
He's not writing to a church.
He's not even writing to a small group of believers or church leaders.
Luke is writing to one guy named Theophilus! What we know as the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts started off as letters written to one guy. Can you imagine that?
We know Luke was a physician and a details kind of guy. In his own words he says he put together a "careful" or orderly account. Think about all the time, energy, and effort it took for Luke to write these two books...pouring over the evidence, cross referencing the eyewitnesses, investigating the details, writing it down, proofreading to make sure he got it right...
All for just one guy. Or was it?
Luke thought he was writing to one guy. He was hoping to encourage one friend. Yet, today it's impossible to measure the impact of his writing. Who knows how many over generations and centuries have read these two letters and been moved by them. Think about the significance of Luke and Acts on church history, the record of the early church, our understanding of the Holy Spirit. Think about the richness of parables and events recorded that are unique to Luke's Gospel.
The reality is that our world is different because Luke, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, decided to invest himself in one. What Luke didn't know is that, in obeying God and pouring himself into one, he was changing the world forever.
Do you want to make a difference? Do you want to do something really big? Do you want to change the world? Then find one person you can begin investing your life in. Let the Spirit lead you to pour into one and the rest will be history.
Friday, May 14, 2010
I Don't Have Time To Write Blogs
As you may have noticed from my last post, dated late February...I don't have time to write blogs! Actually, that's not true. It's more accurate to say that I don't take time or commit time to write blogs. I could say I don't have time for any of the important things in my life, and that kind of feels true. I'm too busy. He or she needs me. I have things to do, places to go, people to see. Time is a funny thing. We think of it like income, and act as if some have more of it than others. We say things like: I just don't have enough time...I'd love to, wish I had the time...It sure would be nice if I had time to...
But one of the unique aspects of time is that it is a level playing field. Every single one of us wakes up with 24 hours to do whatever we want with. Sure, I know we have different responsibilities, jobs with different hours and schedules, etc. But we all have the ability to choose what we will make time for, who or what we will commit time to. Family, hobbies, Tv, people, events, work? The painful truth is that nothing reveals more clearly our priorities than how we spend our time.
Recently, I heard the Lord say, "Ben, you have all the time you need to get done whatever needs to get done." In effect, God was telling me to prioritize and relax at the same time. Stressing because I don't have enough time isn't going to create more time! It's freeing to know that God has given me all the time I need. Today is his gift to me and to you. 24 hours to spend any way we wish. It's exactly enough to accomplish what he has in mind.
For me, a big key is commitment to the important rather than the urgent. You've probably heard that before, but what really is important to you? For example, we might say, "family," but does the amount of time we spend with our family tell the same story?
What's important to you? If I looked at your schedule what would it tell me about your priorities? Maybe the things you "don't have time for" are actually the things you need to commit time to the most.
But one of the unique aspects of time is that it is a level playing field. Every single one of us wakes up with 24 hours to do whatever we want with. Sure, I know we have different responsibilities, jobs with different hours and schedules, etc. But we all have the ability to choose what we will make time for, who or what we will commit time to. Family, hobbies, Tv, people, events, work? The painful truth is that nothing reveals more clearly our priorities than how we spend our time.
Recently, I heard the Lord say, "Ben, you have all the time you need to get done whatever needs to get done." In effect, God was telling me to prioritize and relax at the same time. Stressing because I don't have enough time isn't going to create more time! It's freeing to know that God has given me all the time I need. Today is his gift to me and to you. 24 hours to spend any way we wish. It's exactly enough to accomplish what he has in mind.
For me, a big key is commitment to the important rather than the urgent. You've probably heard that before, but what really is important to you? For example, we might say, "family," but does the amount of time we spend with our family tell the same story?
What's important to you? If I looked at your schedule what would it tell me about your priorities? Maybe the things you "don't have time for" are actually the things you need to commit time to the most.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Moses' Prayer
I was reading recently about Moses in Exodus 33 as he cried out to God when leading the Israelites. One of the best prayers recorded in scripture: If you don't personally go with us, don't make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably on me-on me and on your people-if you don't go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth." V.15-16
What a prayer! God, we don't want to do anything or go anywhere without your presence! Moses understood that it's only God's presence that sets what we do apart! I know this seems to be stating the obvious, but what would happen if that was truly our approach to everything in life? If we were so hungry for God's presence to lead the way in everything we do that we actually refused to move without it? If we really, really believed that the ONLY thing that sets us apart and makes what we do worth anything is His presence?
What a prayer! God, we don't want to do anything or go anywhere without your presence! Moses understood that it's only God's presence that sets what we do apart! I know this seems to be stating the obvious, but what would happen if that was truly our approach to everything in life? If we were so hungry for God's presence to lead the way in everything we do that we actually refused to move without it? If we really, really believed that the ONLY thing that sets us apart and makes what we do worth anything is His presence?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Play Like A Saint
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Well, Luke Emerson Perry was born Jan 19th. 5lbs 13oz. I now have a four year old, 1 year old, and newborn baby boy! Couldn't be happier. Haven't had much time to blog, however!
So I feel I have some catching up to do! What a year 2010 has been so far! I'm going to attempt to combine the two biggest events of my life for the new year (having my third son and the Saints winning the Superbowl) into some type of coherent and meaningful thought (because these days I have to multi-task!). So here goes.
Little Luke was a few weeks "early," but he was born at just the right time. Upon his birth we quickly learned that he had a low blood count. Babies normally have a blood count in the 50's; his was 18. Two blood transfusions later he was doing fine, and we were thanking God that he was born when he was. It was good for both him and mom.
Anyone who has ever witnessed a birth knows it is a powerful reminder of the gift life really is and how fragile it can be. Luke's entry to this world reminded me of how God had been at work in my own life at birth. I was born with a heart condition known as transposition of the great vessels. The long and short of it is that blood only flowed through one side of my heart, meaning that the blood wasn't being properly oxygenated before recirculating through my body. This, of course, can cause all kinds of problems (like death for example!) and the only thing that kept me alive was a small murmur that allowed just enough "good" blood to spill over to the other side of my heart. What followed was a series of miracles...the murmur, a young doctor who was able to quickly and correctly diagnose my condition, an opening--literally in the nick of time--at the only hospital where I could have emergency surgery to keep the murmur open until I was old enough to have open-heart surgery, an open-heart surgery one year later that was procedurally very new and successful, and a normal healthy life despite the doctor's concerns that I may have suffered brain damage or would have physical impairments.
I'm happy to say that I've always been a top student, played baseball and basketball in junior high and high school, and have never had any negative side effects. I know that my life is a miracle and gift from God. Your birth may not have been as dramatic, but the fact that you are breathing means you have purpose, and that God has entrusted you with this thing called "life." Now, what are going to do with it?
Forgive the awkward transition here, but this is where I attempt to tie all this to the Superbowl.
There are always two ways to play:
1. Play not to lose
2. Play to win
Playing not to lose means you play very cautiously and conservatively. You play the odds. You do what's safe. You do everything possible to avoid making a mistake. This is how the Colts played.
The Saints had a very different game plan. They came to win and they played to win. Playing to win means you hold nothing back and leave everything on the field. You take calculated risks. Rather than worrying about mistakes you're more concerned about a missed opportunity. You go for it on fourth down. You blitz Peyton Manning. You open the second half with an onside kick! Anyone watching had to appreciate the aggressive style of play by the Saints. They didn't go to Miami to play not to lose. They played to win their first ever Superbowl. And they did it. They shocked the sports world and all their nay-sayers.
So what if no one else believed? Never mind that they were playing the legendary Peyton Manning and only one team had ever come back from a 10-0 deficit in Superbowl history. The Saints saw their opportunity and they seized it. No other team had ever lost the last three games of the season and gone on to win the big one either. No other team had ever kicked three 40 yard plus field goals in the Superbowl. No other team had ever attempted an onside kick that early in the Superbowl. No other Saints team had ever made it this far.
It would have been so easy for the Saints to play not to lose. They had every reason to play not to lose. But they played to win because, after all, that's why you go to the Superbowl! Can you see where I'm going with this?
All of us have the same choice in life. We can play not to lose or play to win. We can live our lives cautiously, hoping to never make a mistake, or aggressively to seize opportunities and win. Often the difference comes when we glimpse how precious life is. People who have near-death experiences vow to play to win. Their eyes have been opened to the gift of life. They see the opportunity of a second chance, and they don't want to live with regret or be left wondering "what if."
My prayer is that we never take a single day for granted, and that it won't take a near-death experience to awaken us to the fact that life is short. It is precious. It is a gift and a sacred trust from God. May we never resign ourselves to a fear-driven, complacent, mediocre, play-not-to-lose mentality, but aggressively live every moment so that at the end of the game there are no regrets.
Let's play to win. Let's play like a Saint!
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 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. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 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.
1 Corinth 9: 24-27
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