Athletes tend to work much harder and have a more productive training session when a coach is present. Athletes are often competing for playing time, or at least for the admiration and approval of their coach. Off-season training is always a struggle for most athletes. They are left on their own with no teammates to push them nor coaches to motivate them. Athletes may have a training plan provided to them, but the eyes are no longer watching so the effort is harder to manufacture. I realized this as a young athlete so I started to imagine Jesus sitting in the bleachers by himself watching me when I ran around the track in the summer and winter months. Later on I realized that I didn't need to imagine anything.
Lord, thank you for providing a "training plan" for my life and for always being present to keep me accountable and motivated.