Looking for Lasting Spiritual Growth? Trust in what God has promised, wait for Him to do it, and do YOUR part faithfully in the mean time. Treat it like a marathon ...

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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Few events in life involve more striving and stamina than running a marathon. Living the Christian life is one of them. The parallels between the athletic effort and the spiritual life seem obvious. The Bible backs up our comparisons. We're told to "run with perseverance the race" (Hebrews 12:1).Paul instructed us to "Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24). He also pointed out that "physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things" (1 Timothy 4:8).

The parallels between growing spiritually and running a marathon may be apparent, but they are not simple. No one decides to run a marathon and shows up at the starting line the next day. An extended period of training is required between the decision to run and the starter's pistol. The decision to trust Christ takes a moment, but he consequences take a lifetime to work out.

No one decides to run a marathon and shows up at the starting line the next day. An extended period of training is required between the decision to run and the starter's pistol.

The difference between trying to run a marathon and actually running a marathon usually boils down to training. Likewise, those who "try" to live the Christian life may get stuck in failure, while those who enter training to live the Christian life survive failures and actually live! The trying mentality can't handle failure, and usually ends when failure happens. The training mentality expects a certain amount of failure and uses it to measure progress. The Training way of life strives, endures, and perseveres. Jesus didn't say, "Try to follow me." He said, "Follow me."

Jesus didn't say, "Try to follow me."

He said, "Follow me." 

[more to come on this topic ...]
From The Manual, The NIV Bible for Men