Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

If you follow sports at all, you know that success is never accidental. Athletes don’t rely on talent alone—they submit themselves to discipline, structure, and preparation. In a world driven by metrics and measurement, they understand that victory is forged long before the competition begins. Their commitment shows up in how they train their bodies every single day.

Paul wisely used this same athletic imagery because it connects so clearly to real life. He wanted his audience—and us—to understand what’s at stake. He ran with purpose. He didn’t shadowbox or waste energy on what didn’t matter. His goal was clear, and so was his determination to avoid disqualification. And he challenges us to follow that example.

We all know what it feels like to run hard but get nowhere, or to swing wildly without ever landing a punch. That kind of aimless effort is exhausting—and ultimately empty. A life without discipline, especially for a Christian, can drift into compromise and even public failure. Most of us have seen it happen. Some of us have felt uncomfortably close to it ourselves.

The good news is this: discipline isn’t about perfection, it’s about direction. We all have areas where we struggle, but we are not powerless. God calls us to be intentional, focused, and willing to train our lives the way an athlete trains for a crown. So the question isn’t whether we have weaknesses—it’s whether we will confront them.

What one step can you take today to live with greater purpose? What habit, boundary, or practice could help you run your race more faithfully? The effort is worth it, because the goal is too important to leave to chance.