Reveration Blog
3/27/2024 1 Comment Training Surpasses Trying
Meditation
Genesis 14:14--When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan. If Abraham’s nephew, Lot, had been taken prisoner along with the rest of his family and town inhabitants and Abraham’s servants had not been trained in battle, there would have been no rescue attempt, for it would have been hopeless. Instead, Abraham had the confidence to take his small force and go and rout four kings and their warriors to regain the freedom of his relatives and recover all their stolen property. The trained ability to fight coupled with the will to do what was right, made the difference. Training has applications in many aspects of life. For example, most people fail with resolutions because they make commitments from a platform of trying. “I will try to lose weight. I will try to work out three times a week. I will try to spend less time on the internet.” Nothing is wrong with those statements or the intent, but little is likely to happen without setting up a training regimen with accountability to fulfill the stated goals. People often say, “I know I should read my Bible.” But they rarely do. As Yoda would say, “Don’t try, do!” Stop making statements that assuage guilt but accomplish nothing. Create, protect, and execute habits that result in faithful training. Sometimes, this is best accomplished by admitting the need for help and letting someone act as a trainer. My buddy, Eldon, regularly enters into races, competes, and either wins or places high in his age group. I’ve known my classmate, Dave, to go out to a Colorado Springs track covered with snow and shovel an entire ¼ lane so he can run. My sister, Barbie, walks her dogs every chance she gets so she can stay in shape. Despite a debilitating stroke, my son, Bryan, goes to physical therapy and works out with weights and stretching exercises to prevent his limbs from atrophying. People succeed when they refuse to compromise the hard work of training. Try by training—that is the appropriate application to desire. Anything less is wishful thinking. Inspiration “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training.”—Archilochus ©2024 Daniel York ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause. To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice. Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth. (Holman CSB)
1 Comment
Captain David Scot Knecht
3/27/2024 09:25:02 am
Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams advocates systems over goals, because systems keep us success-oriented over the long run. He makes a good point. Check out his 2013 autobiography, "How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big."
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