Run in such a way as to win

1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Do I run in such a way? Do I run with all my might, or do I hold back. Do I even remember to do the things He taught me yesterday? Do I give it my all? Do the cares of this world choke out the Word telling me to run faster, jump higher swim deeper?
THere's words coming at me all the time, but not all of them are from the Lord. I need only obey those, not all the other words. Most of which I heard during a day, at any given time, will come according to what I have listened to that previous day, and the day before. Have I trained my ear to hear only Him, or to hear His voice above all others?
Many reading this may only feel despair. They may feel so pitiful, so down in the dumps, that this word would just kill them all the more, because they feel so far from tis level of walking, hearing obeying.
Having not been in shape in a really long time, if I tried to swim the channel right now, I'd sink. Cramp up and sink to the bottom. I'd have to train for weeks, maybe months to get back to any level of proficiency. I have lost the ability to do what I used to be able to do, physically.
In my mind I have always been able to dunk a basketball, because in my heart I've always believed if I worked hard enough, I'd be able to do it. Even at the age I am now, and even thoughI an not compete at the level I could before, I still somehow believe I could dunk. When I was 15 or so I could dunk a volley ball on a regulation rim, so I knew it was only a matter of time before I could do a real ball...but that didn't include me hurting my knee. After that I could no longer jump like I could. But I played as though I could.
I ran in such a way as to win.
"Lord help me in every way to run in such a way as to win. In my walk with You, let it be a run, a race, that because of You, I win."
In Christ,
tim