Overcoming Sin

In the 2010 Winter Olympics, Holland's Sven Kramer was as certain a gold medalist in the 10,000 meter race as any contestant in any event at the games. The world-record holder had been on his way to an Olympic record with eight laps to skate, holding a steadily expanding lead of more than six seconds over Lee Seung-Hoon of South Korea. That's when Kramer's coach, Gerard Kemkers, called out "inner lane!" Kramer sailed over the finish believing he had won his second gold of the Games. "Maybe this was my best 10K ever," he would later say. "Every stroke was 100 percent." It was left to his coach to go up to Kramer and tell him he had been disqualified for crossing over into the wrong lane.

These guys lost in a sporting event and the sting of being disqualified was disappointing to say the least.

One doesn’t want to “finish” in the game of life only to find he has been disqualified.

I want to finish strong for my Lord. I don’t just want to make it to heaven. I want to finish strong and hear my Savior say, “well done."

The Apostle Paul told us what he did, "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1Corinthians 9:27)

One of the ways I have found to bring the body into submission is through prayer and fasting. Fasting and prayer is about the spiritual being stronger than the physical. If you are fighting a sin or habit, prayer and fasting can enable you to overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You can live without your sin, temptation, or whatever you want to call it, but you can't go without food and water. Pick one day a week and fast that day, drink only water and give yourself to prayer when you would be eating. If because of a medical condition you have to eat, I challenge you to abstain from the television and give that time to God in prayer and the study of His word. The flesh doesn't do too well in the presence of God. This might take months, but I believe you will bring your flesh into submission and your testimony for Christ will not be disqualified.

Jesus said, "When I come again will I find faith (faithfulness) on the earth?" Give yourself to the Holy Spirit through a life style of prayer and fasting and you will remain faithful till He comes.