Desire vs Discipline

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

  1 Corinthians 9:24-27

For the longest time, I've thought that it would be nice to be healthy.

The problem? I've also always dreaded the idea of cardio, weight training, and diet control. 

Even though I desired to lose weight, I desired even more to avoid getting tired, sore, or giving up my favorite foods. Simply put, running, lifting, and eating healthy aren't fun to me, so I tried to avoid them.

To address this, I had this idea that motivation was the key. I would “look within," examine my desires, and realign them. My thinking was that discipline can only take you so far, but if your heart’s not in it, you'd eventually give up.

Over time, that thinking began to shift. A turning point came when I was watching a streamer talk about becoming a “gym person.” A viewer commented that they couldn’t enjoy the gym, and the streamer replied something like:

“Guess what? I don’t enjoy it either! Being with friends is fun, but I don’t get that dopamine hit people talk about. But I realized I don’t have to like it. It’s a decision I’ve made for my health.”

Paul says something similar in 1 Corinthians 9. Like a runner preparing for a race, he disciplines his body to win a prize. For a runner, that might mean self-control over their diet, exercise, and sleep. For Paul, it meant self-sacrifice. He made himself a servant to all (v. 19) to win them for the sake of the gospel (v. 23). His prize would be the crown of recognition from Christ for being a faithful servant.

Here's my conclusion: Desire is the spark, but discipline is the training that keeps me in the race.

I don’t have to love every workout or healthy meal, but I'll stick with them for the sake of my health.

Not every Bible reading or prayer will be filled with awe (though I pray the Holy Spirit works through them), but union with Christ requires regularly communing with Him in these ways.

Not every person will be easy to love, but God calls me to love for the sake of the gospel.

So I'll run, not aimlessly, but longing to hear God say "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23). And through daily discipline, I'll imitate Christ more each day.