Daily Devotions
From Dreams to Discipline
Title: From Dreams to Discipline
Reading for June 23: Psalms 104-106
Weekly reading for June 17-23: 1 Corinthians 7-11
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... But I discipline my body and keep it under control...
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Swimming sensation Michael Phelps has won sixteen Olympic medals (14 of them gold). In the 2008 Olympics, the world was mesmerized as he won eight gold medals in eight days, breaking seven world records.
These achievements did not come easily. Aside from other training out of the water, when he was training Phelps was swimming about fifty miles a week! He swam five hours every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. He even swam on Christmas and his birthday. (And began doing this when he was eleven years old!)
Why did he do this? In his own words: "You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the further you get."
The ESV has a footnote that reveals that the Greek in verse 27 should literally read, "I pummel my body and make it a slave." That's what world-class athletes do to their bodies. They punish their bodies. They don't think about the pain. They don't fret over the sacrifice. They have a dream that has consumed their life.
Perhaps the reason why we don't get as far as we want to go spiritually is we don't dream enough.
Sometime today, perhaps in the car or during your quiet time, take some time to think about heaven. Sing a song about heaven. Spend five minutes today in heaven, and see if it doesn't motivate you to dig a little deeper and discipline yourself to godliness.
Father God, we dream of a home with you! Lord, come quickly!
