The summer Olympic Games are underway in Rio. These international games began in 1896 and occur every four years. The athletes have trained and prepared and anticipated the competition in the 28 sports constituting the games.

The Olympic Games were referenced in 1 A.D. by the apostle Paul. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:²⁴Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

²⁵And 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.

²⁶I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

²⁷But 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.

Definitions

Prize =reward for victory

Do you want to hear Jesus say ‘well done’?

Obtain =acquire through effort

How much effort are you willing to give to win Jesus’ approval?

Strive = try hard

Mastery =expert skill

Which skills have you been developing?

Incorruptible = cannot be perverted, decayed, dissolved

Subjection = under control and influence

How well do you know your inner-self (self-image, emotions, interests, beliefs, attitudes) and

the automatic control your inner-self has over your choices?

In your marathon of life there will be training, trials, triumph and all require your trust in Jesus Christ, your Master Life Coach.

Training

Before David faced the giant Goliath, he first faced both a lion and a bear. 1 Samuel 17:³²And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

³³And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

³⁴And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

³⁵And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

³⁶Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

³⁷David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

Do you see how facing the lion and the bear prepared David to face Goliath?

How can you apply David’s example in your current circumstances?

Trials

Preparing for the Olympic Games involves trials to assess the athletes’ ability and preparedness.

In 1 A.D. James assured us there would be trials in life and he gave encouragement in James 1:¹James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

²My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

⁴But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

⁵If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

⁶But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

As your Master Life Coach, Jesus Christ has a specific goal for developing you-Romans 8:²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Conform-to become similar, to act in harmony

Image-likeness or representation of a person, optical counterpart

Firstborn-first in the order or result

God is actively working for you to become similar to Jesus Christ and to act in harmony with Jesus Christ.

What does that mean to you?

Jesus Christ provides you provision, protection, direction and correction for your earthly journey.

Psalms 23:¹ (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Provision and direction

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Protection and direction and correction

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Questions for reflection

1) What provision of your Master Life Coach do you see in your circumstances?

2) What protection of your Master Life Coach do you see in your circumstances?

3) What direction of your Master Life Coach do you see in your circumstances?

4) Is there some correction of your Master Life Coach for you in your circumstances?

Your Master Life Coach will never leave you-

Matthew 1: ²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us

Hebrews 13:⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Your Master Life Coach works all things in you and through you for good

Romans 8: ²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Your Master Life Coach understands everything you feel

Hebrews 4:¹³ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Your Master Life Coach wants you to ask Him for help

Matthew 7:⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

⁹ Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

¹⁰ Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

¹¹ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

What do you need to run your race? Patience? Longsuffering? Faith? Meekness?

Triumph

What do these words mean to you? 2 Corinthians 2:¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

¹⁵For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

¹⁶To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Trust

Nahum 1:⁷ The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will         accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run to obtain an incorruptible crown!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti