FCA Endurance: Becoming IronFitSample

Train with a Plan

Ready:

“You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 19:21

Set:

Completing an Ironman triathlon or marathon won’t just happen. You can’t just sign up for a race and expect to complete it successfully without having prepared for it. You must carefully think your training through and develop a solid plan. You must determine what is required to make completing the race a reality. The following popular saying is true: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Successful athletes who have sustainable endurance put great effort into planning for long races. Training plans are an essential part of the process and involve a daily training regimen that allows them to be prepared on race day. It’s a daily discipline requiring focus and attention.

Like physical fitness, spiritual fitness requires a daily plan or specific training regimen. To develop a deeper relationship with God and live out His purpose for your life, you’ll need to have a plan. It will require a daily discipline of reading and studying God’s Word, prayer, fellowship, discipleship with other believers, and attendance at a local church.

Just like training for a race, you can’t deviate from God’s Word and expect to have a sustainable purpose in your life. In The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence says, “That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD’s Presence, by continually conversing with Him.” God has designed His plan for us, which is in His training manual–the Bible.

Go:

1. How can you open your heart and mind to what God wants you to do?

2. How can you grow deeper in worship and fellowship with Jesus?

Workout:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Overtime:

“Heavenly Father, I know You have both a purpose and a plan for my life. I want to grow deeper in my relationship with You. I ask You for the wisdom to come up with a solid plan to grow in my faith and to have the discipline to follow through. Thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit working in me to make it happen.”