Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:26–27
During 2026, Peachtree Church is inviting everyone into Cultivate, a churchwide discipleship plan centered on the fruit of the Spirit and the kind of life God longs to grow in us. Throughout the year, we’ll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take shape in everyday life through the Spirit’s work. Cultivate brings together worship, Scripture, group guides, and meaningful practices designed to meet you where you are and support growth in ways that fit your season. These twice-weekly devotionals are one way to stay connected, offering reflection and grounding for daily life with God. Whether you engage in many ways or just one, you’re invited to be part of this shared journey of becoming more rooted in who God has created and called you to be.
Devotional
I spent a good portion of 2025 learning how to make sourdough bread. I had seen plenty of beautiful loaves and certainly eaten my share of them, so I thought, how difficult could it possibly be?
Well, as it turns out, it is a lot more difficult than I expected! There was the starter to keep alive, the feeding schedule, the stretch and folds, and so much attention to timing and temperature. I quickly discovered that making a good loaf of sourdough involved much more than mixing a few ingredients and putting them in the oven.
And the frustrating part was that I didn’t always know what I was doing wrong. But I kept at it. I read, I practiced, I made adjustments, and somewhere along the way, things began to make sense. What once seemed so complicated gradually became more familiar. Now, I’m not suggesting I’ve become a professional baker, but I can make a pretty good loaf of sourdough bread!
And apparently, I enjoyed that learning experience so much that I’ve decided to take up golf.
I’m discovering that golf has its own way of reminding you just how much you don’t know. I can watch someone who has played for years and their swing looks so natural. But then I stand over that little white ball and try to remember my grip, my stance, my posture, and everything else I’m supposed to be doing. Suddenly, it doesn’t look nearly as easy!
I’ve been thinking about how we learn new things. We often begin with great enthusiasm, not fully realizing how much there is to learn. Then comes the frustrating stage when we know what we’re supposed to do but can’t quite do it yet. And I think that’s where we’re most tempted to give up.
But if we stay with it, something begins to change. What once required so much concentration gradually becomes more natural. We develop new habits, and eventually we discover that we’re doing things we once found almost impossible.
I think there’s a connection here to what Paul writes in Corinthians. Paul understands that growth requires intentionality. An athlete doesn’t become skilled simply by wanting to be skilled. There is practice involved, and often the most important work happens long before anyone sees the results.
And I wonder if the same isn’t true of our spiritual lives.
We want to be patient, but then someone frustrates us, and we realize how quickly our patience disappears. We want to trust God, but when something unexpected happens, we find ourselves worrying about things we can’t control. Sometimes we recognize how we want to respond, but we haven’t quite learned to respond that way consistently.
But here’s what I find encouraging. The very fact that we’re beginning to recognize those things about ourselves may be evidence that the Holy Spirit is already at work. Perhaps there was a time when we didn’t even notice our impatience or our need to be in control. Now we recognize it, and that awareness gives us an opportunity to pause and respond differently.
And over time, something begins to change. We may discover that we’re a little slower to anger or a little quicker to extend grace. Not because we’ve finally mastered the Christian life, but because the Holy Spirit has been patiently shaping us.
I think that’s where self-control becomes a gift. It helps us continue practicing even when growth feels slow. And unlike learning to bake bread or play golf, our spiritual growth isn’t dependent on our own determination. God is at work within us, and his grace is present in every part of the process. We don’t have to get everything right. We can learn, make mistakes, receive forgiveness, and keep growing, knowing that we already belong to Christ.
So I’m going to keep working on my golf swing, even though there are days when that little white ball seems to have a mind of its own.
And I’m grateful that in my spiritual life, God is far more patient with me than I sometimes am with myself.
For Reflection
- Where in your life is God inviting you to keep practicing faithfulness, even when growth feels slow?
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for your patience with us as we grow. Help us to recognize the quiet work of your Spirit, even when change comes slowly. Give us the willingness to keep learning and the freedom to rest in your grace, trusting that you are faithfully forming us into the likeness of Christ. Amen.
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Devotionals