As we watch the Olympics, these athletes are definitely people who have their eyes on the prize.  They have dedicated their lives to exercise, practice, a healthy diet and getting enough sleep.  And they have done it all for the sake of their sport.  To be the best, they don’t go to the Olympics to get the bronze or even the silver, they go for the gold.   In our walk with God we should go for the gold.  We should never take our eye off the prize.  In our race there is only one prize, there are no bronze or silver recipients.  Our prize is to have a lasting deep relationship with God, this relationship will not only carry us through life but enrich our life in eternity.-JEP, 8/10/16

1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.(NASB)

Worry comes out of imagination.   Too often we are distracted by the temptation to imagine a bad outcome, creating worry.   Since we have the ability to imagine a bad outcome we also have the ability to imagine hope. Wondrous things can occur when we unite our hope with prayer. -JEP

Philippians 4:6   Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  (NRSV)