Train Yourself Rightly

I recently attended a conference with the title, “ Built to conquer”. The main thrust of the conference was to show in different ways how and why men were built by God to conquer. It showcased 7 pastors from the surrounding areas. All of whom talked about conquering or building in various ways, through a biblical lens of course.I came away from that conference with a renewed fire for the work men are supposed to undertake in their homes and their churches.

There were some solid men of God preaching that day, praise God! I say it renewed a fire in me because I felt like I have been slacking in my home discipleship. Recent sickness has drained me mentally and physically. Just sitting down to write this article relieves a burden that’s come from being drained. Those men’s words hit me square where God wanted them to hit and helped to bring me out of my slump.

One big thing that stood out from that day was the need for men to conquer themselves. This is a priority if we are to do anything else worthwhile for the kingdom of God. Self discipline is a trait that a man must possess in order to conquer anything. And it takes work on our part. Diligently searching through God’s word for advice and instruction must be taken seriously and given top priority.

Here’s one set of verses that was quoted at that conference.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

In verse 27 it talks about bringing his body into subjection. Some translations use discipline here. The meaning still stands. Paul puts himself in check so to speak. Knowing that if his body is not disciplined he is of little use. Discipline is needed not just to run the race but to win. One can run a race with no discipline but will ultimately fail at winning if he hasn’t trained to run the race as well as he can.

Just the same we can live out our Christian lives knowing sound doctrine, memorizing verses and quoting texts, but if we fail to rightly apply those truths to and in our lives we’ve not run that race well. So make sure you rightly apply God’s word and cultivate a disciplined life in order to run the race well.