Today’s Reading: I Corinthians 9
Several years ago, there was a very popular bible study called the Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. The study is a forty-day guided journey of self-reflection and inspiration. When I was a young graduate, I studied this book and learned several ideas that were life changing and forced me to make adjustments. But I as I write this post, I have forgotten the majority of what I had gained from the book. At that time I was essentially going through the motions and not actively seeking a more in-depth spiritual journey. I felt that I was walking around aimlessly without a specific purpose. James puts it so well
James 2:14-17
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good [b] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
I was trying to increase my faith relationship with God, but my works or actions were not aligned with His Plan.
These past several weeks, I have been reading and praying more with intention than I have done in quite some time. I have been faithful in my bible study, my personal spiritual reading and prayer time. This has allowed me to be more in tune with what God has positioned for me to understand and conquer. As this journey has continued these past couple of weeks, I have been met with more affliction and adversity. I take this as a positive outcome, I have been growing in my relationship with God and the enemy is upset, for this reason alone I am overjoyed. That is were Paul has revealed to me this week in
I Corinthians 9: 24-27
24 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. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,[b] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Unlike my younger self, I have found purposeful intention in my faith and my actions. I am continually seeking to win the race and obtain the goal. I am no longer aimless in my fight or run. I have driven focus and dedicated purpose to win and not be slothful in my prayers, aspirations, relationships, and connection with God. My prayer is for us a community to become more intentional with our desire and relationship with God.