It seems the past couple of days I have been bombarded between paradox that exist in my life.  This one is not very different from the last post I wrote (A disconnect between knowledge and actions).  However, this really focuses on the my struggle with sanctification.

For a couple of months I have been “training” for a mini marathon (13.1 miles).  For anyone that knows me well, they know I am not a big runner.  Before I went to college I could barely run 2 miles.  After college/during my senior year at college I could run about 3 miles.  During my training I completed a little over 4 miles at the set deadline I gave myself.  I then thought I was going to be fine from then on.  I hit my “goal” and I began to stop taking running so seriously.  I came up with more and more excusses to stop running, thinking I was going to be fine, and would still be able to run the marathon.  Through out history NOT ONE PERSON HAS BEEN ABLE TO THINK THEMSELVES INTO SHAPE.  IT TAKES ACTION!  It takes action – discipline, focus, drive, and attention.  It is not just going to happen because I want it to.  It is going to take hard work, every day discipline.  I think this is also very applicable to the Christian life. 

Paul compares the Christian life to a race – it is hard, it takes discipline and endurance!  It takes ACTION – and just with the marathon I cannot think myself into godliness.  I must work at it!  I must discipline myself to read and mediate and devour my Bible.  I  my discipline my mind, I must focus all my thoughts, actions and attention on the Lord.  I must be faithful in prayer.  I must pray that He continues to grow me into the likeness of His image!  It takes action and practice and hard work – just like training for race, I am training for life!

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  ~I Corinthians 9.24

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin wich clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith!    ~ Hebrews 12.1-2a