What does it mean to train for something? If you are any sort of athlete you have to prepare yourself for your competition. An Olympian does not just show up at the Olympics and think they have any chance of winning unless they have prepared by hours and hours of physical training. Running a race such as a 5 or 10K takes preparation. You have to get up and get out of bed and get going. Goals have to be set and you have to keep striving to do your best. Training for a new job takes discipline of learning the ropes even if it gets hard and not giving up. Training is a disciplinary tool to get you to achieve a goal and have victory.
We are training to be disciples and prayer warriors for the Lord. We do not want to lose heart and give up. The enemy will try to discourage us and put thoughts in our heads that what we are doing does not matter in the big scheme of things, but it does. The world we live in is not on our side. We constantly will be fighting against anti Christian forces trying to snuff out anything to do with growth in Christ or speaking the name of Jesus. We are in a hostile world.
That is why it is vitally important to stay in your training mode. Train your mind to think good positive godly thoughts. Confess good things from your mouth. Keep on your knees in prayer. Do not give up. Wake up and start the day right. For the battles you will fight you need to equip yourself by getting into the word of God and knowing what it says about certain struggles you will encounter.
False thinking and false ideas will even come through well meaning believers. If you do not know what the Bible says about certain subjects you will start believing a watered down worldly version that may compromise the truth. Know that the enemy loves this. He loves it when he can get believers to believe the worlds lies. We are not of this world and are not to get sucked into the thinking of the world. It is hard not to, unless you are daily reading your Bible.
2 Timothy 2:15 says "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 1 Timothy 4:8 says "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." Now this is not an excuse to get fat and not take care of temple of God but it is saying spiritual exercise is more important and has greater eternal value. 2 Timothy 3:15 says "and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Seems like when our children leave the nest and head for college or wherever life takes them they start listening to other voices who get them to doubt God and question the Bible. Many leave the faith to the great despair of their parents. Keep in mind that you knew the truth and the enemy caused you to believe seducing spirits and lies. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 says just this "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." When you do not saturate your mind with truth and if you do not stay in fellowship in a good church or wake up and have devotions it is easy to get spiritually flabby and to not care anymore.
1 Corinthians 9:24 says "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." You will have temptations. Things will try to come get you off course. You might fall away for a while. But keep looking to Jesus and resisting the lies of the enemy, Satan.
When you worry you need to instead start being a warrior and soldier for the Lord. When you feel like your prayers are not being answered just hang on. Keep fighting the battle, keep praying and keep looking to Jesus the source of your strength. Despairing parents and others who feel like quitting your training program just remember what it says in Luke 18:1 and that is "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
PRAYER: Father I want to train to be in spiritual battle. There are days I wake up feeling no desire to open your word and study. Father I know this comes from the enemy as he does not want me equipped for the spiritual battles we face daily. Father help me to stay motivated and encouraged in my spiritual training program. If I am a parent help me release my children to you and ask that you guide them into all truth and keep them on the right path with a desire to love and serve you . Protect our minds from false teachers. In Jesus Name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Romans 1:18-32
NOTE: When you have time listen to another wonderful praise and worship song I have included below. Click the link and worship the Lord.
http://youtu.be/IpzELELQ300
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