Manual for fulfilling your purpose

Part 10 b: Run to win

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV).
Fortunately, in this type of race, the winner wins by finishing his/her race.  Therefore, you can not get the prize if you do not reach the finish line. You are only competing with yourself as you are running your own race. In the race of life it is not about coming first, it is about fulfilling and achieving God's purpose. This is so because you are uniquely made, custom made for your own race. You are the only you there is. If you are short, you are short enough for your purpose. If you are tall, you are tall enough for God to use you. You are fit for your own purpose.

Therefore, run to obtain the prize, run to win. We are often told it is not about winning, it's about participating. I would bet to differ. It is about winning and getting the prize.  And the prize, whatever it is, is determined by the purpose. Let's us throw away all mediocrity and 'run in such a way as to get the prize'. Having played different kinds of sport I know that losing is unpalatable. Having being in academics I know that failing is heart breaking. How then can people say it's not about winning? I say if you prepare and play well, if you put in the necessary effort, you will win. Winning is the only acceptable option. That is why we are looking towards a day when we will obtain a crown that does not fade. When the King of Kings will confer to us eternal crown saying, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord' (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).

Plan to win

Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house (Proverbs 24:27 NKJV). Planning and preparation is vital for victory. It is often said that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. If you take care of the plans and preparations, the end result will show. If you are an athlete you will know that most of the work is done behind the scene, where nobody is watching. People will only see during the race whether you prepared well or not. To have lasting success, you must never neglect the importance of working hard in private. Let what you do in public be a continuation of what you do in private.  If you excel privately, it will be natural to replicate that success publicly.

Christ shared the same sentiments in Luke 19 verse 28 - 30 when he said, 'For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish?' Plan and know what will be required to complete your goal. It will definitely cost you something. Do not underestimate anything, be willing to put in the necessary effort and sacrifice to complete the task. 

Many people plant churches without counting the cost, many enroll at universities but are unwilling to spent sleepless nights studying. Many pursue careers in entertainment industry but can not handle the fame. Many end up in drug rehab centers because they never counted the cost. Many are one hit wonders, here today gone tomorrow, because they did not ' sit down first and count the cost'.

This should not be so. Plan and prepare well to have lasting success. Psalm 35 v 27 says, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” The Lord desires a prosperous end for you.