Train Your Body with Discipline | 1 Corinthians 9:27 Devotional + Workout
- Christian Lifter
- May 16
- 2 min read
Updated: May 26
Devotional
“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians is a letter written by Paul addressing the conflicts within the church in Corinth. It is split into 5 sections and reads as 5 short essays, each including a problem that Paul responds to.
In 1 Corinthians 9, specifically verses 19 through 27, Paul writes about how he had all the rights of a free man. He gave up these rights in order to preach the gospel. He did not have to live under the Law of Moses, but he chose to obey Jewish law so he could preach the gospel to the Jews.
In order to speak the gospel, a man who was free from all became a servant to all. His mental and physical self-control allowed him to discipline his body:
“To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”
1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV
He likens the discipline of his body to that of an athlete, suggesting we should motivate ourselves like a runner who knows only one can win. We should channel this motivation, guided by Christ, and avoid aimlessness or being like a boxer without an opponent.
This letter is not intended to be self-praise by Paul. We must remember that Paul himself wrote, “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:23 ESV) and “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16 ESV)
In everything Paul did, Christ came first. His discipline was not about appearance, performance, or pride—it was about purpose.
The same should be true for us. Whether in our faith or in our training, discipline is not the goal—it is the tool. We discipline our bodies not for vanity, but as an act of obedience and worship to Christ.
Without that foundation, discipline becomes self-serving. With it, even the way we train can glorify God.
Workout
Below is the workout for the day.
Two things to consider when completing this workout:
Sissy squats can be replaced with leg extensions, so long as the purpose is to stretch the quad. To me, sissy squats provide the most stretch in the quad of any exercise that I have done.
The calf raises can be with a dumbbell or calf machine. This can be any calf exercise from a seated position.
Barbell Back Squat
5 sets of 5 reps
Barbell Romanian Deadlift
4 sets of 8 reps
Superset
Sissy Squat
4 sets of 8 reps
DB Seated Calf Raise
4 sets of 8 reps
Back Extension or Hyperextension
4 sets of 12 reps