November 29 Thought for the day...what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger

Thank you, everyone, for the birthday wishes. I am truly grateful and blessed...best birthday yet

My brother often uses the phrase I placed in the headline of this post. He has gone through much in his life, and I believe it is what has kept him going. I, on the other hand, am not quite as sarcastic. However, what is interesting is Paul basically says this to Timothy.

"....exercise yourself toward godliness." 1 Timothy 4:7

Timothy was facing all kinds of hardship. I have mentioned this in previous posts. Paul uses a word here that was only used to describe professional athletes. These athletes were quite literally always in a life or death match. Their training consisted of training in the unbearable heat. Most of their competition took place in the heat of summer so all year they would train in the harshest of heat. They would place themselves in the most difficult of hardships knowing that this hardship would enable them to overcome whatever may come their way in the competition. They would even ask trainers and other athletes to viciously beat them while they were training so in case they were wounded during the battle, they would know how to keep fighting to win.

Theses athletes lives depended upon the harshness of their training. They welcomed hardship knowing that whatever did not kill them only made them stronger. They were preparing in every way mentally they would strip away every fear, wrong attitude, thoughts of failure, and even their clothing so to give no advantage to their enemy to grab something mentally or physically to use against them.

Their training would have brought them to near physical, mental and emotional perfection to win. Paul uses this word with Timothy reminding him not to expect it to get easier but rather than fearing the difficulties, embrace them knowing the Lord will use them for his good and make him stronger, ready for bigger more important battles. Making t possible for him to win every time.
The Paul says "godliness," this is Paul stressing a "radical, fanatical, devotion." The Holy Spirit is stressing through Paul that mediocre efforts reap mediocre results, but radical efforts reap radical results! Putting your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength into something will gain us the freedom, joy, peace, harvest and so much more we desire.

Allow the Lord to help you look at the hardship in your life differently. If you are growing in Christ, then you are already overcoming hardship. It will not get easier, but you will gain strength, influence more people, win every battle, and bring freedom to yourself and others. The athlete that performed well most often would win his freedom and the freedom for his family. Freedom from slavery, taxes, discrimination, and so much more. God wants you free, but he also wants everyone you know to come to freedom. Your training, battles, and overcoming win impact many more people than you know. Train hard and win! Freedom is coming.