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1 Corinthians 9:25-27

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Personal Challenge

As we strive to discipline our bodies and our passions through ascetical practices we must remember that it is not about just doing these things because they are there for us to do. Paul reminds us that we live this life of discipline with purpose and focus. We target those passions and sins that we know we need to take care of. We confess those areas of our lives, read scriptures that guide us through our discipline and do the right kinds of “exercises” to heal that part of our lives. My flight instructor from many years ago told me, “Practice does not make perfect! Perfect practice makes perfect!” Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner and correct my vision and focus!

Zechariah 8:7-8

Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Behold, I shall deliver My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. I shall bring them in and settle them in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be to Me a people and I will be to them a God in truth and in righteousness.’

Encouraging Words

Israel had been living in exile from their promised land for a long time. They desired to be home again. It was their sin that got them exiled and their continued sin that kept them there. Aren’t we in a similar situation? Jesus proclaimed the He was establishing the new, heavenly kingdom with His incarnation. Heaven exists today and we can be living within its spiritual boundaries, yet we choose to sin and be exiled from it. Just as God promised the Israelites that He would bring them back to their promised land out of exile, He also promised us that through Christ, His incarnation, His sinless life, His death, burial, and resurrection, that we too will be brought out of exile into His present kingdom. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner, and bring me home.

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Personal Challenge

Why do athletes put themselves through what looks like torture to the rest of us? Why do professional musicians spend hour after hour after hour practicing? All of this is done to develop the discipline to perform at one’s highest potential. This is why we, as followers of Christ, choose to follow ascetic practices in our lives. Practices such as prayer, fasting and giving of our possessions to the church and those in need. We do this to develop the discipline needed to make it through this life striving to be the image of Christ. We do not do this to earn any favor, or position, or our salvation. We do this to strengthen, tone, and train our spiritual body and soul to live for Christ and to win the battle over sin and self-sufficiency. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Corinthians 8:8

But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

Personal Challenge

Paul reminds us that the spiritual practices that we do in our lives are not to be used to separate us from our brothers and sisters in Christ. As Orthodox Christians, we practice fasting. This is not a way of earning salvation, but a way of learning how to bring our body under our control. It is a way to develop discipline. Doing this is part of our personal journey with Christ. We do not use this practice to set us apart from others or to put them down or to lift us up. This is always a challenge as we go through Lenten periods. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Zechariah 4:6

And he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by mighty power nor by strength, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Encouraging Words

The one question that continually comes up in Christian, as well as non-Christian lives, is, “Who can help me through this…?” We are all finite. We are all limited in our capabilities, our understanding, and our resources. And so often we are confronted with issues that seem so far beyond us. Yet our Lord has created us with the innate desire to overcome these issues. Maybe He did that so that we will continually be confronted with trying to find Who is greater than us that can help us overcome. That Who is our God who reminds us that it is not our power or strength, nor the power or strength of any other earthly entity that will help us to overcome, but God alone that will take us through every issue, challenge, or confrontation that this fallen world may throw at us. Glory be to God and… Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Corinthians 7:3-4

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Personal Challenge

The scriptures are very clear, marriage is a relationship where the husband and the wife choose to live the rest of their lives as servants to the other person. Neither one has any more authority over the other, but both submit 100% to the other. This is so contrary to the way that the world wants marriage to be, but it works. The Orthodox Church captures this in their marriage ceremony with the crowning ceremony, which recognizes that the husband and wife an now living as joint martyrs for each other and for Christ. Glory be to God!

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is with you. The Mighty One shall save you. He shall bring gladness upon you and will renew you with His love. He will delight over you with joy as in a day of feasting.

Encouraging Words

We are never alone. We may feel pretty lonely at points in our life. We may feel abandoned and as if we must fight all of our struggles on our own. But that is not the truth. The Lord our God is always with us. We are always in His presence. He is the Mighty One and He has already saved us for eternity. He is the one that will fill our lives with gladness and His love. He is the One that delights over us. It is never Him that withdraws from us so that we feel lonely. It is us who withdraw from Him and create our own loneliness. He is still present and waiting for us to call out to Him. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Encouraging Words

Most, if not all, of the world religions, other than Christianity, leave it up to the individual to do the works necessary to measure up to some standard. They have to do it on their own. Christianity, however, proclaims that when Christ becomes the Lord of our life, we are given the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and guide us through our journey of life. Our body becomes a living temple that is the home of the Holy Spirit and we can choose to either listen to Him or resist Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Habakkuk 3:18-19

Yet I will glory in the Lord;
I will rejoice in God my Savior.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will direct my feet to the end;
He will set me upon high places,
So to conquer by His song.