READ
REFLECT
Every great athlete has the necessary skills and tools to tackle even the most daunting peaks. They know the climb will be arduous and challenging, but they embrace the struggle, never looking back at what they left behind.
Instead, they focus on the path ahead, searching for the next opportunity to push themselves further, higher, and harder. As they ascend the mountain, they encounter obstacles and setbacks that test their resolve, but they persist, always keeping sight of their ultimate goal.
And when they finally reach the summit, they stand triumphant, having conquered not just the mountain but their own limitations and doubts.
Just like the muscle-up exercise requires you to pull yourself up and over the bar, perseverance is the inner strength that helps you overcome obstacles, push through plateaus, and reach new levels of achievement in your fitness goals.
Former quarterback and Super Bowl champion Drew Brees said of perseverance. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my career, and sometimes you learn more from the downs than you do from the ups.”
When we persevere through adversity, we can unleash our true potential in ways we may have never thought possible. With each obstacle we overcome, we gain strength and confidence in our abilities, allowing us to tackle even more significant challenges with the same tenacity and determination.
In Hebrews 12:1, it reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” This verse reminds us that faith is not a one-time event, but a lifelong journey that requires discipline, commitment, and perseverance. By throwing off the hindrances and temptations that can hold us back, and by running with perseverance the race marked out for us, we can grow in our faith and draw closer to Jesus.
RESPOND
1. Commit Hebrews 12:1 to memory.
