HABITS AND TRAINING | Northstar Church

“God’s ultimate goal for us, however, is that we be truly conformed to the likeness of His Son in our person as well as in our standing… Jesus did not die just to save us from the penalty of sin, nor even just to make us holy in our standing before God. He died to purify for Himself a people eager to obey Him, a people eager to be transformed into His likeness… This process of gradually conforming us to the likeness of Christ begins at the very moment of our salvation when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and to actually give us a new life in Christ. We call this gradual process progressive sanctification, or growing in holiness, because it truly is a growth process.” — Jerry Bridges.

Ever wonder why you want to change, but you don’t? There are powerful truths in scripture to help you change your mindset, life, and habits. Change is often reflected in our New Year Resolutions early in the year. You want to stop overeating, stop smoking, being more healthy. Or maybe you want to start reading your Bible, praying, or serving in the church. You have the best intentions; typically, you fall back into the same old routine and forget about your resolutions. We want habits that are right and good. This brings you to the question, “How don’t I have those habits?” or ” Why can’t I achieve my goals? You have been trying…for a long time.

Most Christians have the mentality that trying is good enough. Because we care, we try. We try to quit smoking, start praying more, try to love more, try to stop worrying, try to get into better shape. Trying is not the answer. Training is the answer.

Trying is an attempt to change with minimal commitment. Trying gives you an out that makes failure less painful. After all, you tried. Training is a devoted commitment driven by a deeper why. Training is a wholehearted commitment to achieve a specific result. There is an immense difference between training and trying to do something. Trying to do something refers to our efforts to do something we have never done before with no particular outcome expected and no particular preparation conducted. Training to do something refers to our efforts to prepare ourselves to do something at which we intend to succeed. So, you can “try” to run a marathon or “train” yourself to run a marathon. The former refers to an unprepared attempt to complete a 26.2-mile run without expecting to succeed. The latter refers to a systematic process of mentally and physically preparing to complete a 26.2-mile run successfully.

When you’re trying, you might show up and have hope. Training gives you a game plan and a strategy; when you’re trying, you can give up when the first bump in the road comes because it seems the goal is too hard. When you are training, you don’t act according to your feelings. You act according to your commitment. “Train yourself to be Godly” (1 Timothy 4:7). “So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27).

A Jujitsu fighter doesn’t win by trying to fight. They win by training to fight. They are not winning because they beat someone. They are winning because they trained their body to win. You will start being successful in reaching your goals when you start training today. Stop trying. With God’s help and a plan, start training today.

Discussion Questions:

What is the difference between trying and training?
What are some of the challenges and benefits of training? Do you enjoy seasons of training? Why or why not?