At the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, the legendary sprinter Usain Bolt was disqualified from the final for a false start. That setback pushed him to sharpen his reaction time and starting technique. He also strengthened his mental preparation, learning to control his nerves and stay focused under pressure. False starts in athletics usually spring from anxiety. In the same way, the anxieties of life push many into premature decisions that lead to mistakes and setbacks.

the anxieties of life push many into premature decisions that lead to mistakes and setbacks…Whenever you acknowledge God in your life’s pursuits, you relieve yourself of unnecessary pressure.

The words of Jesus should come to the rescue here. He taught us not to be anxious for anything. If you learn to acknowledge God in all things, you remove a lot of pressure from your life. The Bible tells us that the path of the just shines brighter with each passing day. This is because they acknowledge God in all ways. This will also ensure that He continues to supply the grace for progress. Towards the end of his life, Paul stated clearly that he had finished his race. His success can be traced to the fact that he sought God’s will in every phase of his life. Whenever you acknowledge God in your life’s pursuits, you relieve yourself of unnecessary pressure. You stop relying on your own strength and begin to operate in sync with the Spirit of God.