I came on this Race when my walk with Christ was at its strongest point. Or, what I thought was the strongest. I was having no problem running this race called life, but that was because I wasn’t facing any high hurdles. Not that I was avoiding them, I was just choosing to take the path for amateurs. Struggles with brain surgeries were only a starting point to the race I am on now and likely only the first stretch. I have had to jump over many hurdles in the past several years, some higher than others, but each one I have faced has trained me how to jump higher for the next one. I have fallen down a quite a few times, but I quietly get back up and continue to move forward. I can see some more hurdles down the track, and I am sure there are some around the corner I cannot yet see, so I will just continue to be ready to jump as high as I can.
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
Paul included this in his writing to the Corinthians because he knew they were familiar with the Isthmian events (similar to the Olympics) which were held in Corinth. Just as any other athletes train for an event, participants would discipline their body for whichever event they were participating in. For example, boxers work to stay within certain weight limits in order to participate in a fight. If they do not follow these restrictions, they will be disqualified. In the same way, we must prepare ourselves for anything we may encounter in the future.
