What is Your Prize?

What is your Prize?
By: Katie Rogers

What are prizes people strive for? What do people spend their time trying to achieve?
• Money
• Possessions such as cars and houses
• Latest Technology, computers, smart phones, etc

I often strive for prizes that involve food (Get an A on a test I deserve cake)

So often we strive for financial success. So often we strive for a title but that is not the prize God longs for us to search and seek after. Striving for worldly prizes only leave us wanting more, but as we run the race for God we lack for nothing.

2 Timothy 4:6-8
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25
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. 25 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.

Hebrews 12:1
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.- New Living!

Our Prize is found in serving God and doing His will.
The race isn’t easy, it’s not quick but it is worth the training, the sweat and the sacrifice.

1. Train
Just as a runner stretches, runs, lifts weights we also need to train by:
-Read the Word
-Pray and Seek God’s Face
-Lift one another up/use our gifts to bless, encourage and glorify God.



2. Athletes Eat Right, They follow a strict diet
Just as an athlete eats according to their diet so we need to. Athletes cut out the junk and eat healthy
-Cut out improper relationships
-Cut out immorality
-Remove the sin
Replace the junk with the Word, wholesome relationships and a faith in Christ.

Our prize should be seeking, finding and knowing God and than using our skills to fulfill the destiny God has set before us.

Don’t give up on running the race, find those who will uplift, encourage and hold you accountable to running the race and obtaining the Ultimate prize.

As we seek God and allow him to be our coach, everything else will fall into place.