This Week: May 4 - 10
Run to Win
Paul uses the metaphor of a race to challenge believers to live with spiritual discipline and purpose. He reminds us that athletes undergo strict training for a prize that fades. As followers of Christ, we run for something eternal. Every choice we make—what we eat, how we move, how we spend our time—either prepares us to run our race or makes it harder to finish well.
“If people are willing to dedicate so much of themselves to win a race for a wreath that will fade, how much more should we do to run the race God has given us to win?”
The message reminds us that small, daily decisions shape our spiritual and physical lives. Maintenance—of our bodies, minds, and spirits—matters. We are called to create healthy rhythms and routines that equip us to love God, love others, and love ourselves well.
Table of Contents
Key Points:
- Discipline Shapes Destiny – Like athletes, our spiritual lives require consistent, intentional preparation.
- Small Choices Add Up – It’s not just race day that matters—it’s every practice, every meal, every act of self-care.
- Your Body is a Gift – Caring for your body is one way of honoring God’s presence in you.
- Habits Are Holy – When our daily routines are rooted in love and health, they become acts of worship.
- Start Where You Are – Even if you’ve neglected your physical or spiritual health, today is a good day to plant a new tree.
5-Day Devotional
Day 1: Run with Purpose
Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 9:24
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
Are you running your race with purpose—or are you just going through the motions?
Action Step: Identify one distraction that’s keeping you from fully living into your calling and take a step to remove it.
Prayer Prompt: Lord, help me run the race You’ve marked out for me with passion, discipline, and joy.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
Are you running your race with purpose—or are you just going through the motions?
Action Step: Identify one distraction that’s keeping you from fully living into your calling and take a step to remove it.
Prayer Prompt: Lord, help me run the race You’ve marked out for me with passion, discipline, and joy.
Day 2: Training Takes Time
Scripture Reference: Hebrews 12:11
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.”
What spiritual or physical habits do you need to strengthen through daily training?
Action Step: Commit to one new healthy habit today—spiritually, physically, or emotionally—and stick with it for the week.
Prayer Prompt: God, help me stay the course even when the training is hard. Remind me of the reward You promise.
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.”
What spiritual or physical habits do you need to strengthen through daily training?
Action Step: Commit to one new healthy habit today—spiritually, physically, or emotionally—and stick with it for the week.
Prayer Prompt: God, help me stay the course even when the training is hard. Remind me of the reward You promise.
Day 3: Your Body is a Temple
Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Do you treat your body as something sacred and worth caring for?
Action Step: Take a walk, drink water, or prepare a nourishing meal as a sacred act of worship.
Prayer Prompt: Holy Spirit, help me honor the temple You dwell in—my body
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Do you treat your body as something sacred and worth caring for?
Action Step: Take a walk, drink water, or prepare a nourishing meal as a sacred act of worship.
Prayer Prompt: Holy Spirit, help me honor the temple You dwell in—my body
Day 4: Maintenance Matters
Scripture Reference: Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Are you tending the small things in your life before they become big problems?
Action Step: Choose one area of your life—health, relationships, spirituality—that needs some maintenance and take action today.
Prayer Prompt: Jesus, give me wisdom to care for the parts of my life I’ve neglected.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Are you tending the small things in your life before they become big problems?
Action Step: Choose one area of your life—health, relationships, spirituality—that needs some maintenance and take action today.
Prayer Prompt: Jesus, give me wisdom to care for the parts of my life I’ve neglected.
Day 5: Today is a Good Day to Start
Scripture Reference: Lamentations 3:22-23
“His mercies are new every morning.”
Have you been putting off healthy choices or spiritual growth because of past failures?
Action Step: Make a fresh start today. Let go of guilt and focus on what you can do now.
Prayer Prompt: Lord, thank You for new beginnings. Help me to embrace this day as a gift and live it with intention.
“His mercies are new every morning.”
Have you been putting off healthy choices or spiritual growth because of past failures?
Action Step: Make a fresh start today. Let go of guilt and focus on what you can do now.
Prayer Prompt: Lord, thank You for new beginnings. Help me to embrace this day as a gift and live it with intention.
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