Thirdly, you must exercise your muscles of faith. Just as you keep your physical muscles strong, your muscles of faith need strengthening as well. Like an athlete, you too must develop a training regimen for Christ. You will be a stronger Christian and live a more fulfilling life. Make time each day to praise Him. Spend time in Bible. You could read one passage per day or maybe a Psalm or two. Praise Him through prayer or celebrate Him through song. Find time each day for you and Him. It is thought that counts. It could be as simple as having a special candle in your home that you light in his honor. Such a life will be an example to others, drawing them and yourself closer to ultimate prize.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both present life and life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8

In today’s world, physical fitness indicates strength and good health. It does not matter how physically fit you are physical death is inevitable. How many times have you heard of perfectly healthy people dying of a heart attack? Through building spiritual muscles, you will press onward through tragedy and stress to achieve God’s eternal favor. With God’s training program, you are guaranteed victory.

Finally, you must fight good fight now and to end.

I have fought good fight, I have finished race, I have kept faith. Now there is in store for me crown of righteousness, which Lord, righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-not only to me but also to all who have longed for its appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Daily, you will face challenges of enemy who is bent on tearing apart your faith. The enemy will focus on your passion, knowing if he can destroy it, you will fall away from God. He will offer you shortcuts for race. He will offer easy success. I caution you. If you take shortcuts during training, you only fool yourself. When time comes to perform, shortcuts will only make you a fool. God’s grace is without shortcuts. He offers it freely without an agenda. Luckily for us, He has given us instructions for success through Bible. All that is asked is that we follow and serve Him.

God is awesome and His reward unimaginable. He never said that it would be easy. Get in shape. Stay committed to His program and one day in heaven you will receive His promised gift. Keep your eyes on prize and look to Him in winners circle.

Copyright Anthony Mullins

Elite Coaching Alliance 2005

Anthony Mullins is the President and Life Coach for The Elite Coaching Alliance. He specializes in leadership, marriage, relationship and family,christian based coaching. He is the author of the upcoming e-book "Finding Fulfillment in and Unfulfilling World". He can be reached by e-mail: anthony@elitecoachingalliance.com or by phone at 770.587.3545. Visit our new website http://www.elitecoachingalliance.com

Moreover there is something else involved in God’s purpose for delaying or denying answers to my prayers. This is probably most important lesson I’ve learned in relation to my prayer life. God wants to enrich my life with His grace. Grace is good. Grace is everything to Christian. You wouldn’t have anything of God without accepting His grace. His grace is unmerited and inexhaustible. When Apostle Paul prayed to have his “thorn in flesh” removed from him because it afflicted him, God told him, “No.” God told Paul that He would not remove messenger of Satan but instead would give Paul grace sufficient to endure. Why did God act this way? The text answers reason why by saying that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.

There is something you should know about God’s grace. His grace is inexhaustible and will be poured out on us throughout eternity. So vast is depth of God’s goodness that it will take an eternity to empty it. Since there is no end to eternity, there is no end to grace. We read this in Ephesians 2: 7-8: “That in ages to come he might shew exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is gift of God: “(KJV)

The scripture tells us that even in ages to come God will be pouring out riches of His grace to his people. Praise God!

In Hebrews 4:16 it tells us that God gives us “helping” grace in time of need. What is “helping” grace? It is enabling grace. Everyday we should pray that God would give us enabling grace to live for His Glory. When we pray for God to remove a burden that seems beyond our ability to carry, we should ask for grace to enable us. The Bible says in ICor.10:13 that God will not labor us with more than we can handle but will provide a way to escape. Be advised though. The escape might not appear to us overnight. God might delay open door of escape so that we might experience His enabling grace longer.

One last word on extended grace, it comes in various measures. That’s right. In Acts chapter four, Apostles were given “great grace.” In II Cor. 8:7: “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”(KJV) In James 4:6 it says that God gives, “…more grace…” It is possible for God to give grace in measure that is great, greater, and greatest.

II Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work :”( KJV)

I like phrase, “…all grace abound toward you;” Abounding grace is highest level of grace bestowed upon you in this life. You receive God’s saving grace to get born again. You can petition God for sustaining grace to wage spiritual warfare. You can implore God for enabling grace to live daily for Christ in victory. But when God pours out abounding grace, you are in “the zone.” You are flowing in overflow of God’s goodness. You are submerged in His brilliant Glory. You are empowered in His anointing. Abounding grace keeps on giving and giving and giving. So these are some of things I’ve learned in regards to prayer. God doesn’t always answer me right away or in a way that I think is best. But, He has His reasons why He delays my answer. When it’s in my best interest, He gives me grace to endure. I think He does this because He wants to make me best that I can be in Him—steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in work of Lord. So next time you are tempted to wonder why your prayer isn’t answered, you might consider wonders of His marvelous grace in which you find yourself standing. He’s got your best interest in mind. He’s got your back! Go ahead. Praise Him.

Keep faith and by all means stay course through prayer.

Pastor Terry Dashner