Training for Godliness: 5 Lessons From Olympic Athletes

My family always looks forward to the Olympics. There’s something about the talent, heart, and perseverance of the athletes. No matter the event, you know that the athletes will show up big and bold for the glory of their country. Their years of training have prepared them for the moment when the world is watching.

Do we, as Christians, show up big and bold in moments when the world is watching? With a little training or practicing spiritual disciplines, we, too, can show up to glorify God and his Kingdom. For, as Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV), “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Here are five lessons we can learn from the Olympic athletes to help us grow in godliness.

Training for Godliness

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:14, NLT).

Olympic athletes don’t just show up at the competition. They spend countless hours and many years of training preparing. Their bodies have built up muscle memory, and they instinctively know what to do when it comes time to compete.

As Christians, we too can prepare and train, so we know what to do instinctively. There are lots of spiritual disciplines we can try, but the two that will help you become a Kingdom Olympian are prayer and being in the Word.

There is a lot of freedom and flexibility in how you pray and study the Bible. Just as a swimmer will train in and out of the water, you can train in a variety of ways.

Prayer can be written, spoken, thought, sung, or even drawn. It can be one word, quoted, or spoken scripture. Breath prayers, confessions, intercessions, or petitions all count. As long as you show up and have a two-way conversation with God, it will grow you and your faith.

Studying the Bible also has many options. You can read straight through the whole Bible, do lectio divina, or follow a Bible study. Showing up in the Word daily has been life-changing for me, and I know it can be for you, as well.

Coaches and Community for Godliness

“Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset” (Exodus 17:12, NLT).

Olympic athletes are not Lone Rangers. Even if their sport is an individual one, they have coaches, cheerleaders, and often a team of other athletes surrounding them with encouragement, support, and accountability.

We are not called to run the faith race alone, either. Just as our God lives and loves as a Trinity, we too are called to relationship. We have churches, small groups, spiritual directors, friends, family, pastors, and mentors to help us.

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun suggests that ignoring the spiritual disciplines involving others “is to live cut off from God,” but in practicing them, “we learn how to become safe people who bring God’s welcoming embrace to others.”

Rest and Sabbath For Godliness

“For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy” (Exodus 20:11, NLT).

Just as God rested during Creation, Olympic athletes also rested. In the article “Why Olympic Athletes’ Rest Days Are Just As Important As Their Training Sessions,” the author suggests two important ways that Olympians rest: active rest days and sleep.

God created us to need both of these things as well. Rest days or taking a sabbath doesn’t necessarily mean sitting around doing nothing. Instead, you are doing things that help you enjoy God’s creation. It could be gardening, reading, or going on a walk.

God designed us with limits. We need sleep and rest. There’s even a spiritual side to sleep. As one author put it, “Sleeping can be one of the most spiritual things you can do.”

Acknowledging our limits and sleeping can help us remember our limits and practice trust in God to hold things together when we can’t.

Fueling the Body For Godliness

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35, NLT).

Olympic athletes are intentional about how, what, and even when they eat. Many of them work with professional nutritionists to ensure they are meeting their bodies’ needs so they can perform well. Fueling their bodies well is a priority.

As Christians, we have a unique opportunity to fuel our bodies for godliness. Jesus calls himself the bread of life and living water (John 4:10 and John 7:38). This is spiritual nourishment for our bodies.

We also have another tangible spiritual practice that fuels our bodies and souls for godliness: Communion. Christ’s followers have practiced this discipline since Jesus’s Last Supper, but it has roots even further back to Genesis (Genesis 14:17-20) and Exodus (12).

Participating in Communion fuels your body and soul, helps unite you with the body of Christ, and connects you with God’s story.

Celebration for Godliness

“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; celebrate his lovely name with music” (Psalm 135:3, NLT).

We can also learn to celebrate like Olympic athletes.

Before the games begin, they participate in the opening ceremonies. This allows the Olympians and the world to celebrate their accomplishments and their countries without any winning or losing.

No matter the outcome, the athletes celebrate where they are, who they are with, and the joy of the games.

As Christians, no matter the circumstances, we can celebrate God.

On our worst days, we can praise Him. On our best days, we can praise Him.

Even before the day begins, we can celebrate God for who He is and all that He has already done.

Are You a Kingdom Olympian?

As a kid, I remember participating in the AWANA Olympics.

We practiced fun events at our church for a few weeks and then went to another church to compete with kids from other churches. I participated in a bean bag relay. I don’t remember who won or lost, but playing in the name of Jesus is etched in my memory.

I don’t know how much that prepared me for godliness, but I know if I take my faith as seriously as Olympic athletes take their training, I will grow in godliness. You will, too.