Their Single-minded Focus Brings Singular Results.

Nick Wallenda walked a tightrope across Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, and the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua.

Alex Honnold free solo climbed (that means without ropes and without assistance) El Capitan in Yosemite, California.

Roz Savage is the only woman to row solo across all three oceans—the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian.

All three are world record setters.

They fascinate me. I have watched the documentary on Alex Honnold’s climb called Free Solo. I watched Roz Savage’s TED Talk and read her website about rowing across the ocean. And I have read articles about Nik Wallenda’s death-defying tightrope walks. Their accomplishments are awe-inspiring.

What World Record Setters Teach Us About Discipline

What I find so intriguing is that all of these people have one thing in common: they don’t think they are extraordinary. They simply set a goal and worked to achieve it. They broke the unthinkable down into smaller manageable steps, then focused on completing each small step until they accomplished their ultimate goal.

• Nick Wallenda prepared by working out daily to stay physically fit and then spending four to six hours a day walking a tightrope that mimicked, as closely as possible, the conditions he would experience in the real event. By the time the day arrived, he knew he could do it—because he had practiced until it was second nature.
• Alex Honnold spent two years preparing to free solo El Capitan. He climbed the route with ropes repeatedly to learn every single hold and move. He practiced with ropes and visualized climbing without them until it became second nature. When the conditions were perfect and he was both physically and mentally ready, he climbed it rope-free in 3 hours and 56 minutes.
• Roz Savage spent 14 months preparing to row across the Atlantic. She got a boat, secured sponsors, planned food and water, and trained daily. Sometimes she rowed up to 16 hours a day in preparation for the 3,000-mile trip across the Atlantic. She accomplished the feat in 103 days.

Each of these record setters became motivational speakers or authors encouraging others to step out of their comfort zones, put in the work, and pursue their dreams.

Ordinary Commitment, Extraordinary Results

Roz Savage once said: “I keep showing what an ordinary person can do when they put their hearts and minds and souls into it.”

Her words remind me of Jesus’ command: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30 NKJV).

What would happen if we, as ordinary Christians, stepped out of our comfort zones and committed ourselves fully to this?

• Would it change the way we live?
• Would it inspire fellow believers?
• Would it revolutionize our churches?
• Would it draw the attention of the world?

Don’t just read these questions and move on. Stop and really think about them.

How Christians Can Pursue God with Record-Setting Passion

Just as world record setters prepare with discipline and focus, we too must take spiritual training seriously. You don’t become a world record holder without radical commitment—and you don’t grow into a deep walk with God without intentional choices.

In the same way, God has also issued a spiritual challenge through history. Dwight L. Moody once heard evangelist Henry Varley say: “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.” His response? “By God’s help, I aim to be that man!”

What if we all made this our personal goal? What kind of changes would we need to make? Take inventory of your spiritual life:

• What would it take to make space for a deeper relationship with God?
• What do you need to do to start getting spiritually fit?
• How can you make walking with God second nature?

Here are some ideas to begin your training plan for spiritual growth:

• No breakfast until you’ve spent time with God in the morning.
• Instead of scrolling through Facebook, open your Bible app and spend time reading and praying.
• Cancel a social media account and dedicate that time to God.
• Stop watching movies or reading books that weaken your appetite for prayer and Scripture.
• Remove the television altogether—or unsubscribe from Netflix, Hulu, and similar distractions—and spend that time with God instead.

A Challenge to Ordinary Believers

It may look radical. But so does walking across a tightrope over Niagara Falls, climbing El Capitan without a rope, or rowing across the ocean.

World record setters prove what can happen when ordinary people commit themselves with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Imagine what God could do if His people approached their walk with Him with the same passion and preparation. The challenge is before us—will you take the first step?

Do you have other practical ideas for developing a deeper relationship with God? I’d love to hear them! Send me an email or leave a comment below. Let’s brainstorm together—and encourage each other toward spiritual records that point the world to Jesus.