In preparing for athletic competitions, such as body building, the process or preparation is the key to determining the end result. Close adherence to a clean diet, intense training and proper rest and recovery are designed to sculpt the body into an art piece.
In short, it is the process, then, that matters to the athlete. For example, for the bodybuilder, he or she must be prepared to undergo tremendous discipline with the hope of attaining a reward in the future.
Likewise as believers, it is the process that is also vital to us. Our end result or outcome is already determined. We are victors; we are conquerors. The process, therefore, becomes the chisel in the hands of God in shaping us into His likeness. God is not limited to the means or the ways He will choose to sculpt us. Whether our goal is physical or spiritual, God can and will use the process, if we allow Him. God is after character. If we know what our end result is, let us face each day with a mindset of an athlete. That through discipline, hard work, determination and focus, God will not only help us to actualize our goals but also to make us the true champions we are for Him!
