Self Care

1 Corinthians 9:27 “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.” ~NLT

Have you ever met or talked with a woman or a man that was well into their 90’s or over 100 years old? I’m talking about an individual that is 100+ years old, talking, walking, running, and playing cards with you at 2 o’clock in the morning! It is an amazing sight to see! I reference the ‘card playing’ because it was an aunt of mine that was 102 years old playing cards with us, that late, at a family reunion.

She told us, to be full of energy and life at that age took, (for her), discipline in taking care of herself over the years. What a thought! I use too, and still fight every day, the urges to eat foods that are not good for me. Shortening the chances of me enjoying my children, grandchildren and maybe even my great grandchildren grow.  My aunt got to live to see her great grandchildren prosper. In her right mind! What a blessing!

The text above is not only talking about disciplining yourself to stay in obedience to God’s Word, but also to discipline yourself in taking care of the temple God gave you to walk around in while doing His work in this world. And when you really look at it, when you do this, you realize that God is giving you a way to practice being obedient, by practicing 'discipline' in your body.

For instance, if you wake up every morning holding ‘discipline’ over your body: in what you put into your body, (when you want to eat something you love); participating in regular exercise to tone and shape your body, (even when you do not feel like it). You practice taking control of a ‘flesh’ that has had control over you most of your life. When you find that you can tame your flesh physically, you will find that it becomes easier to tame the flesh spiritually. And this is what God created you to do.

In the Corinthian text, chapter 9, Paul speaks of a runner running a race.  He states that in such a race there is only one winner. Paul is saying he practices this discipline so that he will not be disqualified from the race he is running. The race in the name of the Son of God. We must also be disciplined so that we do not disqualify ourselves.

The disqualification doesn't affect His promises, healing, or His will for our lives. Because our God is a forgiving God. The disqualification comes after God teaches others through how we live our lives, and then we fall short by giving up and quitting. We don’t want to disqualify ourselves in the work that he has done through us. A great work the enemy tries very hard to discredit. Pray for God’s strength to endure and win this race.

I will end today’s devotional with words from Pastor Tony Evans, quoting from his Commentary Bible:
“Only the passion in your life is worth your total commitment and pursuit: Loving Christ and serving Him. Don’t disqualify yourself for the prize by quitting the race, running in the wrong direction, or breaking the rules. Run to win.”
 
May God always grant you peace in whatever you are going through in the name of his Son Jesus,
 
Amen

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