“Living without a purpose and a plan is like sailing a ship without a rudder—you’ll float aimlessly in circles and go nowhere.” – Unknown

Don’t you just love that quote? Personally, I believe it paints a great word picture for life, especially as it pertains to our physical health.

When it comes to physical well-being, one of the main reasons I think we often fail is because we train aimlessly and take a yo-yo approach to life. One minute we’re up, the next we’re down. One day we have great focus and direction, the next we’re playing catch-up. We just go through the motions and live by our fickle emotions and motivations without ever establishing a plan. We may have goals, but, if statistics are correct, most of us only revisit them about once a year.

Competitive athletes know how to train. They have clear objectives and know what they need to do in order to be at their best. They take direction from their coaches and trainers and do what they’re told, primarily because they believe their plan will get them where they want to go.

When competitive athletes hit the offseason, however, they often lose a lot of the discipline they once had. And, when they hit the permanent offseason of retirement, many of them all but fall apart physically. I’ve seen and worked with a number of athletes who had tremendous discipline, consistency and work ethic for their sport, but once their purpose was removed, they began compromising, behaving inconsistently and making excuses. Their competitive fire wasn’t gone; they just didn’t have a goal to shoot for or a reason to train.

This is one reason why I love Paul’s athletic analogies. He seemed to know that all aspects of life require the purpose, focus and discipline of a competitive athlete. He knew that an aimless approach wouldn’t work—at least not if we wanted to win!

I fully believe that we all need clear goals—to be able to see our target in order to hit it. And, just as Paul taught, we have to understand that achieving those goals is going to take disciplined effort and consistency. In other words, we’re going to have to work.

So, instead of taking an aimless approach to physical health, let’s start focusing on getting back into that athletic mindset by laying out goals, making plans and seeking help from others.

A great way to get started is by putting an event on the calendar. Personally, I’ve found this to be the best remedy for aimless training. And, if we want to have lasting success, it’s best to become consistent with our training by engaging in repeated competition.

Try planning several events that keep you training year-round. Go ahead and register! Pay the entrance fees and make the events non-negotiable. Take it a step further by registering with friends so that you can’t make excuses to get out of them.

Now, I’m not saying you have to run a series of marathons right away. Your events can be anything from 5Ks to IronMan™ triathlons or even recreational sports leagues. Difficulty and sport don’t matter as much as the fact that you start training with a purpose.

The bottom line is that events keep us in the game. They push our limits and awaken our competitive spirit by giving us purpose, direction and motivation.

It’s time for us to stop training—and living—aimlessly. God has given us purpose in life, and He can use competition to bring out the best in us physically, mentally and spiritually.

This month, reconnect with the athlete inside of you and get back in the game. I have no doubt that the results will prove well worth the effort.

What I didn’t perceive then was my own passion to be admired. Swimming was merely my stage, my opportunity to impress others with my athleticism. Each event was a platform for drawing attention to myself. And it was no different in the other sports I played (and I liked better): baseball, basketball, football. Now, as I reflect on those years, I see more clearly what was in my heart as a young man. I can see how proud I was. –C.J. Mahaney

In perhaps a greater way than any other in life, sports provides a way for us to become “proud.” We lost our significance and glory in the garden and we’ve been on a journey since then to reclaim it and in the process, we often choose to reclaim it through idolatrous ways such as sports.

How much have you thought about this in the way your pursue sports? Do you play sports for the glory of God or for the glory of yourself? Pursuing the glory of God through sports goes far deeper than a prayer before a game and your behavior during the game–it goes all the way into your heart.

What’s in your heart as you play, coach, and watch sports?

In Sports Outreach, by Tim Briggs

Why do we think we can make it on our own? We don't need anyone's help.

I haven't done a lot of research, but speaking from my own personal experience I think we can sum it up in one word: PRIDE!

Have you ever seen a team that had individuals that thought they were better than the rest, they were entitled to special treatment, and they cared more about themselves than the team? What do you call a team like that? Losers!

It is so true that we are only as strong as our weakest link.

• Dad that works too much and isn't home--weak link

• A co-worker that complains all the time--weak link

• Star athlete that thinks he is above the team--weak link

What does God's Word say?:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10

Who wants to be a weak link that breaks under pressure and lets' the team down? What will it take for you to be the strongest link in the chain? Answer: Surrounding yourself with people who will encourage you to live a life surrendered to Christ and Christ alone.

Are you reflecting Christ in your attitude and actions? Or, are you reflecting your pride, ego and self-centeredness? Evaluate today whom you will serve. You, or the One who made you?!

Just a thought!