Growing up, sports were my life. When I got to high school, I realized that I had to train with more focus and intensity than previously acceptable. I needed to get bigger, stronger, and faster. Over 95% of an athletes time is spent training and less than 5% competing.

Training prepares us for game time. We make sacrifices in order to get better. Tim Tebow says, Hard work always beats talent when talent doesnt work hard. Some athletes want the results without the work, but thats not the way it works. Our desire needs to be matched by our doing.

Spiritually speaking, many of us spend very little time training for life on Team Jesus. Our spiritual growth is spotty at best, and we often wonder why we arent farther along in our walk with Christ. Many of us wonder, Why wont God put me in the game? Well, there are reasons. God knows when our spiritual growth is ready for game time (Jeremiah 12:5), and the Holy Spirit is ready to lead us into all Truth (John 16:13) if and when we make the time to train.

Sure, we call it devotions, but we arent very devoted. We call it quiet time, but how often do we rush through the calm to tackle the chaos of the day?

If were honest, most of us dont even have a plan. And, our hit-and-miss approach to spiritual growth is littered with excuses that were too tired or too busy. We need to put ourselves in position for God to do what only He can do transform us from the inside out.

We need to show up and put in some spiritual training time. Team Jesus cant just be a group of weekend warriors. If we want to experience real-life change, we have to train.

Make a sacrifice, get a plan, and show up for the workout. There are no shortcuts to godliness.

We must do the training and let God do the changing. Think about it.

So, Whats The Play call?

Prayer:

Father, give me the desire and discipline to begin and stick with a spiritual training program that increases the capacity of my heart and soul. When I show up and train, you will bring change from the inside out. Amen.

Post-workout stretch:

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.- 2 Peter 1:3-4

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Hebrews 12:10-12

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyednot only in my presence but now much more in my absencecontinue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

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There Are No Spiritual Growth Hacks, We've Got to Train - Team Jesus Magazine