Few events in life involve more striving and stamina than running a marathon. Living the Christian life is one of them. The parallels between the athletic effort and the spiritual life seem obvious. The Bible backs up our comparisons. We’re told to “run the race” (Hebrews 12:1). Paul instructed us to “Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24). He also pointed out that “physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things” (1 Timothy 4:8). The parallels between growing spiritually and running a marathon may be apparent, but they are not simple. No one decides to run a marathon and shows up at the starting line the next day. An extended period of training is required between the decision to run and the starter’s pistol. The decision to trust Christ takes a moment, but the consequences take a lifetime to work out. The difference between trying to run a marathon and actually running a marathon usually boils down to training.

Likewise, those who “try” to live the Christian life may get stuck in failure, while those who enter training to live the Christian life survive failures and actually live! The trying mentality can’t handle failure, and usually ends when failure happens. The training mentality expects a certain amount of failure and uses it to measure progress. The training way of life strives, endures and perseveres. Jesus didn’t say, “Try to follow me.” He said, “Follow me.” Training is a combination of diet, exercise and time. Spiritual training that leads to growth has the same components.

Diet - Meet with God in as many ways as possible, pursuing worship as a lifestyle. Ask God to meet your deepest hunger. Experience God’s presence through worship. Take in spiritual nourishment by reflecting on God’s Word and biblical teaching from qualified teachers. Spiritual food needs to be as regular as physical food, not just when you’re hungry. This kind of diet offers ultimate satisfaction.

Exercise - Prayer is to spiritual life what breathing exercises are to correct performance. Attentive Bible reading is like weightlifting for strength and physical development. Relationships with other believers and participation in the local church are your running partners to enhance your endurance. Application and obedience to God’s Word are the fundamentals you practice to run the race.

Time - You need a commitment of time, exposing yourself to the fundamentals listed above for the long-term. You need a commitment to time, faithfully waiting and expecting God to do his part (the biggest part!) in bringing about spiritual maturity. It’s God who makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

In a nutshell, lasting spiritual growth comes from trusting what God will do, waiting for God to do it, and doing our part faithfully in the meantime.

One-on-One Time with God

For many of us, having consistent time with God is a noble but elusive goal. We race through life, busy with our work, relationships, volunteering, while our spiritual life is often at the bottom of our to-do lists. We picture quiet time as an unavoidable duty, a mandatory time-out, a failed assignment, a ritual, even an impossible task. The magic formula—pray, read, journal, repeat—seems easy enough. But we settle for hit or miss, emphasis on miss.
Yet God invites you to connect with him every day.

The heaven-sent invitation reads simply, “Come to me” (see Matthew 11:28). Even if you are spiritually starving and seriously underdressed, God nevertheless beckons you to an elegant reserved table for two. This is a place where you can settle into your chair late and bedraggled and still hear, “Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.”

If you’re ready to accept God’s invitation, keep in mind the following keywords:

• Today. That’s all you can focus on. You can have time with God today. Don't make empty promises about tomorrow's faithfulness. Today's faithfulness gives you a good chance for tomorrow’s success.
• Pack Light. Bring your Bible, a pen, a and a cup of coffee. Don’t feel obligated to lug around a dense commentary or a dozen extra resources.
• Look Around. Ambience. Choose a quiet spot. If possible, meet God in the same special place each time—make it your spot. Find out what time of day is most conducive to your getting away.
• Write. Write down your prayers and note God’s provisions with specific dates. Record what you’re learning in the Bible and look for common themes. Look back at what you’ve written so that you can thank him for his faithfulness.