1 Corinthians 9:24-26

Living Bible

²⁴ In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. ²⁵ To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup,^[a] but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears. ²⁶ So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I’m not just shadow-boxing or playing around.