Self-Control

“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1Continue reading “Self-Control”

Physical Training

“for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8, ESV) In the previous devotion, I described the issue of diet for a healthy body. It was not an exhaustive article forContinue reading “Physical Training”

Not Mastered

“’All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12, ESV) In my previous devotion, I mentioned that I got significantly out of shape having gained a lot of weight. There were two major factors inContinue reading “Not Mastered”

Importance of the Body

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, ESV) Years ago, on a Sunday morning I got up and readyContinue reading “Importance of the Body”

Climbing Out of the Valley

 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:24, ESV) One time I decided to climb a mountain with a group from the church. When I was in the military I trained in mountaineering while going through Army Ranger School, I was in peak physical condition. Yet atContinue reading “Climbing Out of the Valley”

House of Mirrors

6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.Continue reading “House of Mirrors”

The Monkey on Your Back

“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22, ESV) In 1822 Thomas Gillet published a collection of stories. One of them is titled “The Devil and the Doctor.”Continue reading “The Monkey on Your Back”

No Regrets

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25, ESV) There was a Milky Way chocolate bar commercial that aired years ago that pictured a tattoo artist and a client. The client wanted aContinue reading “No Regrets”

Our Pet Rocks

“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10, ESV) Many years ago, a man named Gary Dahl came up with an idea. He created a fad called the Pet Rock. These were being marketed and sold in retail stores in theContinue reading “Our Pet Rocks”

Shedding the Load

“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV) When I lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I participated in an annual 5-K race on the fourth of July. Following the 5-K they had a 1-mile Survival Run where the participants ran in combatContinue reading “Shedding the Load”