I’ve always loved & trembled at the word “perseverance.” It’s not because I despise the theory of it or due to an inability to train for it…I just know it entails rigid training.
YES, perseverance DEMANDS training.
Through my “school years” one of my 3 sports was “wrestling!” We trained to be able to GO HARD for 6 minutes (three, 2 min periods)! Our training meant most practices were 2-3 hours as follows: 3 mile warm up run, weights, agilities, 3 min period wrestling! You don’t survive in wrestling without perseverance!
Currently I’m training for a half-marathon in October. My goal is 110 minutes (just above an 8 min/mile pace)! My training for this hurts: 5 miles or more 5 out of 7 days/week, one long run day (working up to 13 miles, I’m at 10) & pushing to finish EVERY mile between 7-8 mile pace! I can’t run a half marathon without perseverance.
Multiple online dictionaries define perseverance as…
- steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement dictionary.com)
- diligent, refuse to stop wordnetweb.Princeton.edu)
BUT…how would we define “training for perseverance?!” The apostle Paul shared some great insights (Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27) when he was teaching about endurance/perseverance…
- stay focused (”looking to Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith”)
- remember its a calling (”the race SET before us”)
- know the goal/aim (”do not run aimlessly”)
- eliminate distractions — good & bad (”throw off the weights & sin that entangles”)
- exercise constantly (”exercise self-control in ALL situations”)
- gain discipline (”I discipline my body”)
I’m learning perseverance doesn’t just happen! We must train for it! We must train ourselves spiritually, physically & mentally or we’ll only end up talking about what “we wish we’d done” or how we almost…!” 
Just what I’m learning…
