Missy Franklin, Gabby Douglas, Michael Phelps — these are a few of the names of the athletes who soaked up Olympic glory at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.  But there is also a call to glory for everyday people like you and me — a spiritual Olympics.                                                                                  

Many people wonder:  “What is my life about?  What should I be doing?”  Believers might add:  “What is God calling me to do?”

The answer:  tackle these three challenges of the inner Olympics with all your heart, for all your life.

1) Both Jesus’ and John the Baptist’s first message was a call to spiritual Olympic glory.  They both taught “repent” which means to stop wrongful thoughts, words, and deeds, and replace them with good and wholesome thoughts, words, and deeds.  (If you have ever tried this activity, you know that it takes all the effort, self-discipline, and training of the London Olympic challenge.)

2) The inner Olympics call also involves  getting synchronized — learning to live by listening to God and then daily doing what He tells you to — learning to love and obey Him with all your heart.

3)  Forget self-interest and self-fulfillment and throw yourself into thinking about, serving, and encouraging others.

Many of those who have taken up these three challenges have been known in history as ascetics (spiritual athletes), monks, or saints, (however, they were just regular people responding to the inner Olympic call, which I believe is given to all).  Won’t you join in the pursuit of spiritual Olympic glory?