What are we training for?... if not to win the battle?

In every aspect of our lives we are "training" for something. Our training is either passive or active, by which I mean that we are either:

passively training ~ going through a set of motions/behaviors/activities either unaware of, or with a lack of care for the goal or end in mind

actively training ~ going through a set of motions/behaviors/activities aware of and with action bringing us towards the desired end or goal in mind

An example of our everyday life training, our diet (by which I only mean what we are eating/drinking). We are either eating everything we want either unaware or with lack or care for how our bodies will ultimately turn out, or we are submitting our eating behavior to our desired goal to reach the end in mind, good health, fitness whatever. My point is either way we are training/preparing for something.

In the spiritual world this is the same, most people pray whether they really believe the answer will come or not, many will look for religious ways of attaining a perceived goal, do things they think are "good" to earn credit and what not.

What I really want to emphasize is:

The fact that this training exists in every aspect of our lives causes us to understand that there IS a goal and we ought to be aware of it and be prepared/trained for that end.

Every leadership/goal oriented book will explain that our natural (sinful) tendency is to desire and strive for comfort, but that comfort almost never is what is needed. We don't strive for comfort if we are training to win the prize. We do what we know to be right, learn from those who are already where we want to be, and put those same thoughts/motions/behaviors/activities into action.

The fact that we inherently know that training is good for our body, mind and soul shows us that there is a goal. Since training always has an adversary, even if that adversary is our own desire for comfort, then we are always battling an adversary of some sort. We either recognize the battle and train to win, or we pursue what our natural desire is (to do what is easy/comfortable and makes us feel good right now) and we lose. Thats it. It really is that simple. We know, and the adversary knows that whoever is better trained is going to win the battle.

I know we are aware of this, but I want to remind myself and anyone reading this that we are in a battle... TRAIN TO WIN!

Blessings of Christ Jesus upon you as you TRAIN TO WIN!

Inspiration

The great thing about the Holy Spirit is that for us that trust in Jesus and profess that faith to others have been blessed with His presence ALL THE TIME! So no matter what we are doing, whether it is a (seemingly) spiritual activity, or a (seemingly) everyday life activity (I say seemingly since there really is no distinction for us who are being daily transformed by the blood, power and love of Christ Jesus) he gives us wisdom and insight in ways that we would not have otherwise been prepared to hear and understand had we not been doing that specific activity. Since I have been training so much my thoughts are often wrapped in that frame of reference and as I was resting this morning between training sets this is the thought that came to mind. Be blessed.