Sometimes He Whispers Sometimes He Roars by Marilynn Chadwick

Author:Marilynn Chadwick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books

Temple Upkeep

So I run with purpose in every step. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.

—1 C ORINTHIANS 9:26, 27, NLT

I’ve always loved sports—so it naturally follows that I admire athletes. As I mentioned, I am married to a former college basketball player, and I’ve been mother to our volleyball player, Bethany; our basketball player, DB; and now Michael, our swimmer. Through a relatively heavy involvement with sports over my lifetime, I have realized that there is much to be learned about my spiritual life from observing the personal disciplines of these athletes.

The Apostle Paul must have loved sports, too. He likens the life of faith to the hard work of training for a sport. “I run with purpose in every step,” he writes. “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” (1 Corinthians 9:26, NLT).

Instead of the word discipline, I learned through my concordance that some translations use the word buffet, which means “to treat roughly.” During my last annual checkup, our physician sounded a little like the Apostle Paul when he encouraged me to stick with my early-morning running routine. “Whatever you are doing, Marilynn, keep it up.” Without knowing it, my doctor seemed to echo Paul’s advice to treat the body a bit “roughly” when he quipped, “Stay mad at yourself.” He was right. I’d personally rather be a couch potato. But I’ve learned that it helps to stay a little bit “mad at myself,” so I will continue to buffet my body through exercise. Keeping a rein on my flesh in this way helps me stay alert and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer.

The word buffet came even more alive for me last summer as I watched our youngest son, Michael, along with hundreds of high-ranked swimmers from all over the state compete in the championship meet. Considering the grueling hours of practice involved, it should come as no surprise that these athletes were “buff” in every way. Finely chiseled muscles bore witness to hours in the pool, hours with weights, hours of running, all for the love of the sport. With a bodybuilder, the goal is . the body. But for a swimmer, the body is a tool. The great physique is not for show—rather, it enables these kids to swim incredibly fast.

Sports provide such a great metaphor for the training necessary to develop the habit of continual and effectual prayer. It’s not that prayer itself is always hard. Often, it’s like breathing—an ongoing conversation with God. But to stay alert, mindful, and available to listen—this kind of prayer can be challenging in a busy, noisy world. And carving out time to read God’s Word and pray takes discipline and commitment. This doesn’t happen easily and it doesn’t happen overnight.

We’ve already discussed how persistence in prayer can be trying—especially when we are in pain, when all we can see with our natural eyes looks hopeless, and when answers are slow in coming.

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