Summary: So many Day 1’s in our lives • Day 1 of coming to this earth

Day 1 when you say your first word

• Day 1 take your first step

• Day 1 of starting school

• Day one of the first Date

• Day one of Marriage

• Day 1 of a new job

• Day 1 of making Jesus Lord

• Day 1 of this year

Lets make today Day one:

Day 1: Run to Win

Lets make today Day one in 5 days work with me

Day 1 we are going to Run to Win

Biblical concept that the Apostle Paul lays out in 1 Cor. 9 and Phil 3

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Cor. 9:24-27 NLT

For 2025 we must first decide that we are going to run to win

Today has to become Day 1.

If you are going to Run to Win it will take a decision

Decide to Run to Win

"Every moment of every day, we make decisions. The outcome of your day, your year, and your entire life are mostly defined by the sum of the decisions that you make and the actions that you take along the way." Jack Canfield

Paul decided when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus that He was going to Run to Win.

“Decisions Determine Your Destiny”

Just like we sang today. I have decided to follow Jesus…No turning back

Illustration: Burn the ships

On February 19, 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés set sail for Mexico with an entourage of 11 ships, 13 horses, 110 sailors, and 553 soldiers. The indigenous population upon his arrival was approximately 5 million. From a purely mathematical standpoint, the odds were stacked against him by a ratio of 7,541 to 1. Two previous expeditions had failed to even establish a settlement in the New World, yet Cortés conquered much of the South American continent.

What Cortés is reported to have done after landing is an epic tale of mythic proportions. He issued an order that turned his mission into an all-or-nothing proposition: Burn the ships!

As his crew watched their fleet of ships burn and sink, they came to terms with the fact that retreat was not an option.

To retreat was not a decision that could be made. Decision was they were all in

This is what Paul said

…but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Phil 3:13b-14 NLT

We must decide to forget the past (failures, mistakes, regrets,)

Press on to the finish line.

Press - Continue moving forward in a forceful or steady way

Once you decide you are going to Run to Win Then we must

Define The Win

• What does the finish line look like

“Define the win is where you begin.” Craig Groeschel

We need direction or we get off course

We can not Run Coddiwomple

Coddiwomple is a verb that means – To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination

Corinthians was the home of the Isthmian Games

• So they would have understood the analogy

• Run To Win

• Paul new what the win was. preach the good news to all

• Set the destination so that you know where you are going.

Illustration: In 1994 Mauro Prosperi

Ultra-marathon in Morocco a week long race of 155 miles.

Mauro Prosperi disappeared on the fourth day of the race he ran into a sandstorm and it caused him to go 181 miles off course he had no idea where he was going.

He was completely lost but he continued to run for 9 days.

Everyone is running but some are running aimlessly

Many people will run the race of life in 2025 but don't know where they are going.

Running Coddiwomple

Run to win but if you don't know what the finish line is you can't get there.

Without a defined finish line you will live like everyone else

Set where you want to go in the important areas of your life

What is your win?...relationship with God

• In your marriage

• In your carrier

• In your parenting

• Relationships with other people

• In your finances

• In your physical life

Define the win

“You cant do what you don't define.” Craig Groeschel

Before we get overwhelmed with every area of our lives.

Encourage you to just Pick one area of your life to win in 2025

Illustration: Like a domino effect.

If I win in this area of my life it will create wins in these other areas.

And now that we have decided to run to win.

We have defined what our win looks like we are going to

Dispatch ourselves to Run to Win

• Begin to commit

• your time, energy, finances, thoughts, activities that we do towards the win

• Only the things that will move the needle and bring you closer to the win.

Paul was giving it everything he had.

Running full speed ahead in the Marathon of life

My life is being poured out like a drink offering.

Conclusion: Illustration: The Starting Line Mentality

Picture the start of a marathon.

Runners from all walks of life gather at the starting line, each wearing their numbers and standing ready.

• But there’s something fascinating to observe—no one is there just to stroll casually.

• Every runner is there to compete.

• They stretch, focus, and mentally prepare, because they know the race ahead isn’t easy.

Now imagine one runner who shows up wearing flip-flops and carrying a cup of coffee.

• He’s chatting with bystanders, seemingly oblivious to the competition.

• When the starting gun fires, he jogs a few steps, stops to take a selfie,

• and then walks off the course, leaving the race entirely.

What’s the difference between this runner and those who are serious?

He didn’t dispatch himself to Run To Win.

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

Paul is urging us to approach life like those serious competitors—not the casual jogger.

• If we truly want to win the race,

• We can’t be half-hearted, unprepared, or distracted.

• In it to win it

Decide To Run, know where we are going, and then Dive in to the Race

So that at the end of 2025 we have Run to Win

PRAY