Those words out of the mouth of a 5 time Olympian to my student athlete are still resonating within me two days later! "YOU'VE GOT TO WANT IT!" Those are wise words for more than athletes. Paul, from the Bible says we should all train as an athlete running for the prize!
What the Olympian said in my home on Christmas Eve is lifting my eyes to the horizon of New Years Eve. They are asking ME "What do you want that badly this coming year?"
The answer my heart gives is that I want more of the Lord in my life! I want to hear HIM more, I want to experience HIM more, and I want to be more like HIM!
Our church suggested that we corporately begin the New Year with a 21 day fast. Fast from whatever the Lord tells us to fast from, while reminding us that as we deny ourselves from something we also devote ourselves to something. This sounds a lot like training to me: twenty-one days of intensive focus for wanting something! Some want financial freedom, some want healthier eating habits, while others want healing and restoration in relationships.
What do YOU want?
I know how I will spend my 21 days of training for the New Year! I am denying myself sleep and devoting myself to being in the Lords presence each morning! I have to train myself to set my alarm much earlier than I ever would, however I am anticipating more of the Lord than I normally would receive without the training!
How will you begin your New Year?
Why not allow the wisdom of an Olympian who continues to train athletes for their moment of receiving their reward to resonate? You've just got to want it!
“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.” 1 Corinthians 9:4-24-25
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
