DEDICATION COUNTS TO WIN

The good things in life, sports, careers, raising a family don’t come easy in this life. For most of us it has taken years to accomplish where you are today and there were many, many sacrifices.
It took a lot of dedication, routine and mundane drills of self discipline.

Dedication means being committed to a task or purpose. Coaches, teachers, parents, mentors, role models all over the world have dedicated their time, talent, and leadership to improve a young persons life for the better when it comes to excellence.

You can only lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink it! Olympics have the best athletes when competing. To excel at a sport, music, art, academics, and even the military takes unusual sacrifices, determination, and dedication.

Preparing is the key, but it needs to be done the right way.
Tom Brady thrived on pressure and clock management especially under two minutes; but do you know how many times he has practiced that drill? I am sure hundreds of times in practice each season. Tom even as a backup quarterback prepared both physically and mentally as if he was the starting QB. He has also disciplined his body with a food diet of what helped him with energy and health off the field. TB12 always has pursued excellence at his position and for his team.

I remember after my first year of wrestling in high school, my coach ‘CJ’ John LoPresti just after the last match of the season told us that our season doesn’t start next Fall, but tomorrow!
He said, “Its what you do in the off season, that will make a difference during the season.”

Practice doesn’t always make it perfect, but practicing the right way does and produces excellence. Doing it the right way is not always easy, but self discipline, determination, and dedication will eventually payoff. (Please read that again).

On the spiritual side we have to walk in self denial, self sacrifice, commitment, and trust God in the process and to allow His Spirit to live and rule in our lives to guide us and direct us.

Prayer and time alone with the Lord is work just like physical exercise. The benefits of a steady consistent workout are so fruitful and rewarding. To walk in spititual victory and be an overcomer in this life we have to dedicate our time to God and allow the flesh to ‘die to self’ to see changes in our walk with God.
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“So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” Romans 6:11-14

The goal for the believer is to Glorify God.

The Lord is your biggest fan even when you miss the mark. He wants you to get back on your feet and keep moving forward and don’t quit. You’re almost there.

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadow boxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified”.
1 Corinthians 9:24‭-‬27 NLT

Have a great day and weekend ahead my friend. Keep you eye on the prize.