Just a simple thought ...

"I have to work on speed and endurance and all four strokes. I need the speed to take it out (at the start) and the endurance to carry it through. You can't do it on talent alone. A lot of hard work, a lot of dedication." (Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimmer for the USA)

I was really excited when I read this comment on the ABC website from Michael Phelps, but it wasn't until I had time to think about it that I understood why I was excited.

The Bible tells us that we're in a race - "... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ..." (Hebrews 12:1-2). We have to put aside the things that weigh us down so that we can run lighter, freer. We need to look to the One who started the race to be able to see us to the end.

Matthew 24:13 tells us that "he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Or, as The Message puts it, "Stay with it - that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved."

Endurance!!!

The verses preceding Matthew 24:13 tell us that times are going to get tough. Conditions are going to get worse. Life is going to get hard. But there is a promise to those who believe and endure - Salvation!! Heaven!!

WOW!!

Today, I watched Matthew's team play football. I'm not really a sports fan ... I love hearing about and watching the swimming, but football ain't really my thing. However, as I stood watching, even I was able to see that Matthew's team "knew" they weren't going to win even before the game started. They haven't won a game all season and so, I guess, they had a fair idea of the end result. And that seemed to affect the way they were going to play. After all, why bother putting in all that effort only to lose at the end??? They were intimidated by the skill and "togetherness" of the other team. The difference? The other team pulled together, they played confidently, they used their strengths to help each other and they knew they were going to win. Matthew's team had effectively given up before they had even started. Matthew had said to me before he jumped out of the car that they were probably going to lose today because they had been beaten last week by a "really bad team" and, in his eyes, that made his team even worse!!!

I wonder what would have happened if they had "laid aside" the negative thoughts and began to think of themselves as winners, no matter what the end result was? I think they scored one point and that wasn't even a goal (I don't understand any football code!!). If they had been more confident in handling the ball - and, believe me, there were so many opportunities for them to get the ball and do something with it - they would certainly have made it much tougher for the other team and they would probably have scored a few goals.

Even the coach seemed to accept defeat as inevitable!!! These kids are looking to the coach to show them the way, to train them up and to teach them the rules. I guess he's only human and he can only do so much, but if he doesn't believe in his team's ability to win, then they probably won't win!!!!

Something else the team seemed to lack was the discipline to work together and to persevere until they had scored a goal. The discipline comes in the practice sessions where techniques, strategies and fitness levels are taught and increased. The results of the practice sessions are seen in the game, whether those disciplines have been exercised or not.

We need discipline in our race, too. We need the discipline of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, of keeping our relationship with Him strong in practising His presence in our lives with prayer, worship and reading the instruction manual, aka The Word of God!!

I am thankful that my Coach (Jesus) has a belief in the abilities that He has given me. The difference is that He's not just on the sideline urging me on, He's with me every step of the way. When I feel like giving up, He's there. When I just want to throw my hands in the air and quit, He's there with me. When life is overwhelming, He's there. When sorrow or grief or bad attitudes threaten to suffocate me, He's there. In every trial, joy, temptation, victory, sorrow, blessing ... He's there. He said that He will never leave me, nor forsake me so that I may boldly say "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13:5-6).

I am thankful for all that Jesus has accomplished in my life. He is an awesome God!!