Gable said, "You can't ever work too much because there's no such thing as being in too good condition. You can't ever lift too many weights, because you can't ever get too strong."

Training, intense physical training made Dan Gable who he is - a champion!

Athletic Principle

Many athletes can go along way on natural athletic ability, but God given ability can only so far. The athlete who trains the hardest is usually the one who becomes the best and goes the farthest.

Physical training has a workout partner named sacrifice. To reach the top level in your sport you must be willing to pay the price for success. Training is never fun, it is hard work: technique, skills, strategies, tactics and physical and mental conditioning can be punishing.

Training develops more than technique and mental toughness, physical training also develops other characteristics that will help you prepare beyond the athletic field to the venue of life. These characteristics are: Discipline, Teamwork, Sacrifice, Dedication, and Confidence.

Eventhough many athletes love their sport, you may not love to practice. Everyone likes to win, but how many really want to prepare to win?

That is what training is - preparing to win. Dan Gable knew why training was important:

God's Performance Principle

Physical, intense and sometimes exhaustive training is necessary to get in "game shape." There is effort, sacrifice and pain involved to get there. Sometimes as athletes we go through life with "blinders on." We only think, see, and think about our sport. Our whole world revolves around our pursuit of the goal.

The apostle Paul writes this to his pupil Timothy:

As an athlete, how much time per week do you spend training for your sport?

As a Christian how much time per week do you spend training in God's program?

As a Christian athlete we are to train or discipline ourselves to be godly - it is not an option, but a requirement. Paul also wrote, Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training." (1 Corinthians 9:25). Paul states that if an athlete trains to win a prize that is temporary, how much more should we as Christians train and discipline ourselves to receive a crown that will last forever.

Any athlete knows that they cannot expect to perform well in competition unless they have put in the necessary time in training. So it is with Christians who want to glorify Christ. If we are not prepared (grounded in the Word of God, and spend time in prayer), we will struggle in the game of life.

The ancient Greeks who competed in the early Olympic Games went into very strict training as Paul mentioned. These athletes were required to isolate themselves in the training center for 10 months prior to competition. Rain or shine, they were required to attend all of the daily training session. The same basic fundamental exercises were required for all the athletes regardless if they were a runner, boxer or a wrestler. To miss just one workout, or to show up late meant explusion from the training center.

We are in need of this kind of discipline spiritually today. As a Christian athlete you need to focus on the basic fundamentals:

• Read the Bible daily. (Acts 17:11)
• Ask God to open your eyes to what he wants to teach you. (Psalm 119:18)
• Reflect on what you have read. (Joshua 1:8)
• Respond to what you have learned. Just do it!
• Memorize important scriptures. (Psalm 119:11)
• Pray. Spend time talking to God. (Mark 1:35; Matthew 6:5-13); 1 Thessalonians 5:17)