READY

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of god, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship." - Romans 12:1

SET

It was one of those college practices when we were running sprints with no end in sight. We were running while our coach read a newspaper on the sideline. Others were keeping count of how many sprints, but I was asking myself, “Why do I put myself through this?” I was up the night before studying until midnight for an early morning test that day and every muscle in my body was sore from preseason workouts. I was leaving a trail of dripping sweat. There was no end in sight—exhausted physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

Somewhere during those sprints I remembered what I read that morning, Romans 12:1. In the midst of my pain and soreness, I had a completely new understanding of what it meant to be a living sacrifice. As a college athlete I understand what it means to give your body to something greater than yourself. That practice I realized that every sprint, all of my soreness, the pain, the blood, the sweat and every bit of energy coming out of my body in practices and games was an act of worship. It changed my attitude and how I approached everything I did with gratitude for the physical gifts and talents He’d given me to compete.

GO

1. What do you think of when you hear the word worship?

2. How can you worship God with your body?

3. Could being a living sacrifice on your team be a way to share Jesus with a teammate?

WORKOUT

OVERTIME