Week 6 Good Pain
"No Mas."
— Roberto Duran
The above quote means "no more" in Spanish. This phrase became infamous in the boxing world after Roberto Duran, a boxer who had never quit or got knocked-out in his professional career of over 70 fights, uttered this phrase at the end of the eighth round of his second fight with Sugar Ray Leonard.
During the fight, Sugar Ray Leonard decided to dance and prance around the ring. This display had a profound effect on Duran’s fighting spirit. In frustrating Duran mentally, Leonard not only embarrassed his opponent but took his title as champion.
When Duran quit the fight, the boxing world was shocked and befuddled. Duran was asked why he quit during the fight and he said it was due to stomach cramps. His trainer, Ray Arcel, said he never complained of stomach cramps during the fight. His manager, Carlos Eleta, didn’t believe Duran had stomach cramps, but that he was just too embarrassed by the way Ray Leonard was beating him.
Roberto Duran was not an inferior fighter to Sugar Ray Leonard. He allowed frustration and mental fatigue to defeat him well before the fight was truly over. As a fighter, pain is inevitable. However, we have a choice. We can choose the long-lasting pain that comes with the humiliation of quitting or getting knocked out. Or, we can choose the short-lived pain that comes with persevering until we see victory.
Both pains take a significant toll on the mind and body, but only one pain is good.
Claiming victory with your mouth is easy but living a life of victory with your entire being will cost you. Paul describes his journey as follows:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (TPT) Paul’s Disciplined Lifestyle
Isn’t it obvious that all runners on the racetrack keep on running to win, but only one receives the victor’s prize? Yet each one of you must run the race to be victorious.
A true athlete will be disciplined in every respect, practicing constant self-control in order to win a laurel wreath that quickly withers. But we run our race to win a victor’s crown that will last forever.
For that reason, I don’t run just for exercise or box like one throwing aimless punches, but I train like a champion athlete. I subdue my body and get it under my control, so that after preaching the good news to others I myself won’t be disqualified.
This is the price of victory: hard-core, sweat-dripping, relentless training that will test your limitations and push the boundaries of your faith. But it’s worth it! A life of continuous victory over death in own lives and the lives of others is worth some discomfort.
Enduring the pain of relentless training requires sacrifice, devotion, and persistence. You endure training, because the outcome of your battles with sin and selfishness depends on the hours you spend in training.
If you want to experience exhilarating wins in an arena full of spectators, under a thousand flashing lights, you better be willing to submit to the mundane training that takes place in a secluded, dimly-lit gym without of the roar of a thousand cheering fans.
The outcome of your fight is defined by what you do behind closed doors.
Remember, you are not alone. God is your personal trainer, and He chose you to become His warrior. While it feels that the Lord’s rebuke comes more frequently than His applause, relax. He loves you and He is molding you into a champion.
“This is the price of victory: hard-core, sweat-dripping, relentless training that will test your limitations and push the boundaries of your faith.”
Process & Reflect:
Daily, we are all given the chance to throw in the towel and use excuses like “stomach cramps” to quit the fight. What illegitimate excuses do you keep throwing out to disqualify you from the fight?
Do you want to win or don’t you? Which pain will you choose?
Daily Training for Week 6
DAY 2 | SCRIPTURE
At the end of 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul quotes: “…but I train like a champion athlete. I subdue my body and get it under my control, so that after preaching the good news to others I myself won’t be disqualified. What does being disqualified mean to you? How will you avoid disqualification?
DAY 3 | TRAINING
Spend time knowing WHO is training you. Not only is God the lover of your soul, but he leads the Armies of Heaven, and wears the blood of His enemies on His robe. Read Revelation 19 and absorb the confidence of God Who has chosen you to become His prize fighter. Journal your motivational thoughts and share them in small group.
DAY 4 | TRAINING
According to Mickey Goldberg (Rocky Balboa’s personal coach) there’s a mathematical and formulaic component to training that can’t be ignored. As Mickey says, “For a 45-minute fight, you got to train hard for 45,000 minutes.”
How do you train outside of the arena? What does you training routine look like?
If you are coming up dry in this area, here are a few suggestions:
Wake up early – every day, and devote the day to God in prayer, or worship.
READ. Leaders are readers! Find books that will develop you. Read them and finish them!
Know your scripture! Develop a habit of studying scripture and journaling what God reveals to you. Go to https://www.bible.com/app and create your own reading plan.
Pray without ceasing! Call a friend and invite them to pray with you. Go to corporate prayer at your local church. Shut the door to your closet and seek God face without distraction or interruption.
Seek wise counsel. Talk to a pastor, therapist, or counselor and ask them to help you develop a personal training plan.
DAY 5 | SCRIPTURE
Read 2 timothy 3:14-17.
Listen to Paul’s plea to Timothy to surrender to Godly Training.
“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
– Muhammad Ali
Be honest with yourself what are some of the hardest areas in your life that you need special training in?
How will you commit to getting better at disciplining yourself in those areas?
DAY 6 | SCRIPTURE
It is a common lie to believe that our sufferings are fruitless; incapable of producing something useful, or significant. This scripture crushes that lie and guarantees that something good can come from the ashes of our trials and struggles Read Romans 5:1-6 and journal what you want to see come out of your trials and struggles.
DAY 7 | DISCUSS IN SMALL-GROUP
Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
Create a training plan for yourself and share this plan with your brothers. Let your plan be specific, realistic, and easy to remember. Share this plan with your small group and make a commitment to hold each other accountable.