I recently watched a youtube video on a guy named James Lawrence, otherwise known as “The Iron Cowboy.” He is a husband and father to five young children and is famous for completing 50 Ironman triathlons in 50 days in 50 states. His family was supportive of him, and his 9-year-old daughter ran a part of each one with him. She would encourage him when he didn’t feel he could continue. “His daughter said that success is not complicated and is achieved in the mind then realized physically. Whether you think you can or not, you’re right.”
This mental toughness is what helps tennis players who are down in sets 5-0 win 7-5. It is what makes Olympians get to the Olympics. I could go on and on with examples but to be a winner, the battle is in the mind. You need to be mentally braced that you will not quit trying even when you are losing.
These are good examples for us to think about in our spiritual journey in life.
“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2
“For the Lord God helps me, therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set my face like flint.” Isaiah 50:7
Both these scriptures make it clear “Set your mind” and “Set my face like flint.”
Jesus was a good example of this when He told Peter, “Get behind me Satan” after Jesus had told Peter that He had to suffer and die. Jesus knew He was sent to die for us. He had set His face like flint to do His Father’s will, and He did. He suffered terribly and died a horrible death for us on the cross.
I guarantee you that Jesus was tempted to throw down the cross and show His glory but He did not.
On our Christian journeys, we are all tempted to sin. We are also tempted to quit at times. To persevere we must take time with the Lord each day, read the scripture, and set our minds on that which we are called to, whether it be our marriage, our children, our co-workers, or whatever God has called us to. The battle begins and ends in the mind.
If we entertain the thoughts to quit, then we probably will. To have mental toughness we firmly and quickly need to kick out all those thoughts that are not from God.
We are running the race to win, not to lose. Our goal is Heaven. So let’s be firm in the Lord. He is our strength and help. We cannot do it without Him, but it is up to us to decide resolutely for Him every minute of every day. We decide to love. We decide to forgive.
The Act of Contrition prayer says, “I firmly resolve with the help of thy grace to sin no more…..”
Yes, we will fall but the difference is we will get back up and finish the race.
That’s what Jesus did.
God bless you,
Mary Ann / Mother Hen
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