Young People's Group

CULTIVATING THE MINDSET OF AN ATHLETE

by Pastor Mitch
April 04, 2004

A “Winning” Mindset

Carl Lewis was honoured as the Olympic athlete of the century. In his entire career, he won nine Olympic gold medals. His specialities were the long jump and the sprint events. What was one of the things that made Carl Lewis such a champion? It was his mindset. He had a “winning” frame of mind. The apostle Paul was challenging Timothy to have such a way of thinking.

“And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” 
2 Timothy 2:5

When a runner enters a race, his main purpose is to win the race. Without this mindset, he will give up easily. Paul also wrote to the Corinthian Church about having a “champion’s” attitude.

“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.”
1 Corinthians 9:24

We are to run the Christian race of life as if we were going to win first prize. In the Isthmian games at Corinth, runners competed in games where there would be only one winner. On the other hand, we are all winners if we finish the race well. The prize that we will receive is an imperishable crown of life. Young people, let’s seek to have a “winner’s” mindset as we run the race of life. Strength comes when we do this.

The Diligence To Train Hard

A good athlete does not become a champion overnight. It takes years of hard training to run well. He is determined not take short cuts.

“And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” 
2 Timothy 2:5

Contestants in the ancient games must endure ten months of mandatory training before competing. If they did not complete the training, they were barred from the games. Athletes have tried to cheat in the training before. Many have been disqualified. If we want to be to a “winner”, we must have the diligence to train hard. Each day should see us diligently walking with God in prayer and reading His word. We must train hard and not take short cuts in order to be a good Christian “athlete”.

The Discipline To Be A Victorious Christian

Tremendous discipline is also needed on our part. We have the example of Paul in how he disciplined his life to run the race well.

“Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty… but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 
1 Corinthians 9:26-27

When a runner seeks to win the prize, he trains with a great sense of certainty. He does not want to be “disqualified” from this race. As such, he exercises great discipline. The word “discipline” mean to beat the body “black and blue”. We are to discipline our body until it becomes our slave. We must subject our body to what we want it to do. Young people, let’s learn to discipline ourselves. Let’s seek to have a strong “winning” mindset. We can win this Christian race of life. Our part is to be diligent. Our part is to be disciplined. Let’s seek to be victorious Christians for Christ.

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