Sometime ago, I saw an online image of the world’s fastest runner at the time. In that photo, he looked flabby and out of shape. Though he’s still quite young, I knew he was no longer fit for any competitive race.
He’s no longer in form.
Friend, you need to be in form. Fitness is a requirement for relevance (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). That’s why in sports, we talk about current champions, not former champions. “When I used to reign… when I used to be anointed…” is not a testimony (Job 29:1-7). The real question is: What’s your current form?
God won’t keep you fit. You have to keep yourself fit (2 Peter 1:10). Coaches can guide and instil discipline, but they can’t run the race for you. They can’t train for you. The athlete must do the work. In the same way, mentors and spiritual fathers can guide and encourage you, but they can’t keep you fit. You must do it yourself (2 Timothy 1:6).
One of the devil’s strategies is to make you unfit for destiny. He gets you into habits that drain your spiritual potency (Song of Songs 2:15). He makes you comfortable going days without prayer or fellowship with God. He keeps you busy with frivolities and wastes your time on social media. He distracts you so he can destroy you (1 Kings 20:40).
To fulfil destiny, you need both righteousness and fitness. Don’t get to a place where God finds it difficult to use you, even if He originally planned to (Hosea 7:8-9). God will always forgive you, but He won’t always use you. Any gospel that says “how you live doesn’t matter” is sponsored from hell.
Choosing you is God’s responsibility. Keeping fit is your responsibility (Matthew 22:1-14). Many people have frustrated their divine calling by refusing to stay fit. If you catch a revelation of your great destiny, you would stay fit (1 Corinthians 15:8-10). Keep fit spiritually. Keep fit mentally. Keep fit physically. Keep fit emotionally. Keep fit in every area. You will succeed.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria