“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

In this part of his letter, Paul is comparing our pursuit of success to a race. And the most important thing to remember is that every athlete aiming to win must exercise self-control in all things. This is the essence of a successful life: preparation. You cannot achieve your dreams if you haven’t gone through this crucial step. Any good player or athlete worthy of the name who desires to win the trophy must invest a good amount of time in preparation. Similarly, a student cannot expect to succeed in an exam if they haven’t effectively prepared themselves. The longer the time spent, the better your performances become.

Preparation allows you to know your weaknesses, your shortcomings. It enables you to truly identify who you are in your raw state. Preparation gives you the ability to expand your capacity to act. Jesus spent 18 years preparing.

And those three years of ministry influenced the whole earth and continue to impact millions of people each year. Take time to prepare yourself. A good speaker cannot deliver an excellent speech if they haven’t devoted adequate time to preparation. You guarantee your failure if you evade preparation. David spent years preparing in the wilderness, fighting lions and bears to protect the sheep. And David was promoted to be the king of Israel by the Lord. No one is or will be catapulted from the ground to the top of their destiny. It’s a process. You can secure a place in the palace if you decide to prepare yourself for this divine mission.

Confession: I declare in my life the necessary strength to fulfill my destiny. I receive the spirit of counsel to establish and the spirit of wisdom to prepare myself. This race I am starting will lead me to my glorious destination.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant me your exceptional grace so that I am ready for every good work spiritually, mentally, and physically. Your angels strengthen me and guide me in the name of Jesus.

This text is an excerpt from the book “52 Secrets to Accomplishing Your Prophetic Destiny” written by Apostle Joel AYATODE.

We invite you to read the following article “Triumph Over Your Past.“