DEVOTIONALS

Spiritual Essential: Endurance Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) In April of 2005, I took on the challenge of an Ironman triathlon. Almost 2,000 athletes bobbed up and down in the frigid waters of Tempe Town Lake waiting for the gun to fire. Less than five minutes into my 2.4 mile swim I caught a vicious left hook from a fellow swimmer knocking my goggles off. I sat up, recomposed myse

Spiritual Essential: Endurance Reading: James 1:12-18 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12) Athletes love trophies. Maybe it’s a medal from a race, a championship ring, a plaque on the wall, or a spot on the podium. Trophies represent accomplishment. They tell a story of sacrifice, discipline, and perseverance. Nobody receiv

Spiritual Essential: Endurance Reading: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) After over 30 years of fitness training, I can say this with confidence: some workouts are easier with a partner. Heavy carries, sled pushes, long runs, and grueling chipper workouts have a way of exposing our limits. There comes a point when motivation fades, energy drops, and your mind

Spiritual Essential: Endurance Reading: Romans 5:1-5 “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3–4) If you’ve ever watched a blacksmith work, you’ve seen a fascinating process. A piece of metal is placed into intense heat until it becomes soft and malleable. Then it is hammered, shaped, and refined. The heat isn’t destroying the metal. The heat is preparing it. Without t

Spiritual Essential: Endurance Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3 “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1–2) Anyone who has ever trained for a long-distance event knows the importance of mile markers. When you’re running a marathon, you don’t focus on all 26.2 miles at once. If you do, the finish line feels impossibly far away. Instead, you focus on the next marker. Mile 3. Mile 8. Mile 15