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The Definition of a Winner

Does someone have to lose for someone else to win?

I like to win. You probably like it, too. When I was in fourth grade, I won a writing contest. When I was in middle school, I won a spelling bee. When I was in college, I won a freshman essay competition.

I never won a race, a gymnastic meet (I could barely execute a forward roll), or any sort of athletic competition. I never won the lottery. I never won an art competition.

It’s not surprising that I avoid athletic competition, lotteries, and painting. We tend to avoid venues in which we are likely to lose.

We like to win. We live in a competitive world. We want the best jobs, houses, talents, kids, and, most importantly, the best hair. Worldly winning requires comparing ourselves to someone else. It also requires someone to lose.

The kingdom of God doesn’t work that way. We are not competing with each other. Galatians 5:26 says, “Let us not become conceited, competing against each other, envying each other.” We don’t compare ourselves with others and puff up with pride. We don’t compete with each other to feel good about ourselves. And we aren’t jealous when someone else does well.

Winning, as a disciple of Christ, means showing kindness, love, and forgiveness. It means serving others. It means putting the needs of others above our own. It means walking in faith. We don’t have to compare ourselves to anyone else. And no one has to lose for us to win.

When I won in fourth grade, I got a silver dollar and I have no idea what happened to it. When I won in middle school, I got the to go to the district spelling bee, where I lost on the word, “matrimonial.” When I won the essay competition, I got a small scholarship to a college I only attended for one semester.

Those wins, in the grand scheme of things, meant nothing. I have nothing to show for those so-called victories. Not so with spiritual victories:

“If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God!” (James 1:12).

Our “wins” as a Christian are eternal. Every kindness is recorded. Every difficulty we endure is noted. Our faith is recognized. And when we receive our reward for those things, it will be an eternal reward. It will never fade, it will never disappear. The ultimate victory is the crown of life we receive in heaven–and hearing the Lord say, “well done.”

No other victory compares to the victory of a disciple of Jesus who crosses the finish line and makes it home. And that, my friend, is the definition of a winner.

Dear God, give me grace to run my own race without comparing myself to others. Let me not be conceited or driven to prove my value by competing with others. Help me remember that winning means faith that endures, patience during difficulties, and perseverance in all circumstances. In Jesus’s name, amen.

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One Thing Lacking

“Jesus fixed his gaze upon the man, with tender love, and said to him ‘Yet there is still one thing in you lacking…’” (Mark 10:21)

In Mark, chapter 10, we read about a man who had a problem—one he probably didn’t realize he had. This man was young and wealthy. One day, he came running to Jesus, knelt in front of him, and asked what he must do to have eternal life.

Jesus said, “You already know the commandments.” The man knew the Jewish law well and carefully obeyed them. To look at him, one would think he had it made. He was successful. He didn’t steal, commit adultery, lie, or cheat. And he was in the right place, kneeling at the feet of Jesus.

He probably expected a pat on the back and kind words. What he actually received must have shocked him to his core.

Jesus gazed at the young man with genuine love and with deep understanding of his heart. Jesus told him he lacked one thing. Jesus didn’t say what the one thing was, but gave him instructions: “Go and sell everything, give the money to the poor, and return and follow me.”

The young man loved his possessions too much. He knew the next step he needed to take. But he couldn’t do it.

He hung his head, turned, and walked away. It’s like being diagnosed with a disease and prescribed a pill that will restore us to full health but choosing to walk away, choosing disease instead of healing. This young man chose his to keep his problem.

We know nothing else about the young man’s life, but we know he chose his stuff instead of his next step. He chose his stuff instead of restoration.

Friend, no one knows how to make us whole except Jesus. We can’t fix ourselves. Honestly, most of the time we don’t even know for sure what needs fixing. We struggle with unforgiveness, depression, anger, and so much more. We desperately need Jesus. We need to run to him, kneel at his feet, ask what we’re lacking, where we’re coming up short, and how we can move from where we are toward where we could be.

When we do, he’ll look at us with genuine love. And he’ll give us a next step. While change sometimes happens instantly, more often it is a process. Jesus’s part in the process is to direct us to our next step. Our part is to obey, to actually do what we know he wants us to do. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s not what we expected. And even when it costs us something.

It’s by taking one step, and then another, that we transform into the person God created us to be. Be wise. Be brave. Take that next step.

Dear God, examine my heart. Look at my life. Where do I need to change? What issues do I need to deal with? And, Lord, what is my next step? I believe you have a purpose for my life, and I know I can’t fix myself or get there by myself. I need your direction. Give me faith, courage, and an obedient heart to change my life step by step. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Your turn: What advice do you have for someone struggling with their next step? Let us know in the Leave a Reply section below.

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A New Identity

 “Jesus replied, ‘You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.’” (Matthew 16:17-18)

Reginald Kenneth Dwight changed his name to Elton John. Peter Gene Hernandez changed his name to Bruno Mars. Eric Marlon Bishop changed his name to Jamie Foxx. And Mark Sinclair Vincent became Vin Diesel.

It’s common for celebrities to change their name to further their career—no big deal. But in Matthew 16, Jesus himself changed Simon’s name, and when Jesus changes your name, it’s a very big deal. It isn’t just a change of name, it’s a change of identity.

Here’s the story. Jesus and the disciples were walking along one day, and Jesus asked them who people said he was. They said people thought Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or some other prophet. Then Jesus got to the heart of the question—who did the disciples think he was?

Simon quickly answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told Simon that his answer came through a revelation from God. Simon didn’t figure it out for himself. He didn’t learn it from a friend or a rabbi. No, God himself revealed Jesus’s identity to Simon.

When we have a revelation of Jesus’s identity, it changes our identity. Revelation gives us mission, purpose, and confidence about who we are in Christ. Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter. Simon was a fisherman, but Peter was a fisher of men. Simon lived a quiet life on the Sea of Galilee, but Peter possessed the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Simon was often unstable, but Peter was solid as a rock.

Peter’s identity, purpose, and mission was tied to his revelation of Jesus’s identity. In Ephesians 1:17, Paul prays for God to give all Christians everywhere a personal revelation of Christ so each of us can comprehend who Jesus is—savior, redeemer, healer, protector, provider. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He is the beginning and the end. Jesus is the lion of Judah and the light of the world. Everything we could ever need is embodied in Jesus Christ.

We all need a personal revelation of the majesty and glory of Jesus. We need this revelation from God—not from our pastor or our parents, but straight from God. We need a revelation of Jesus’s virgin birth, his perfect life, the miracles he performed, and the passion of the cross. We need a revelation of the power that raised Jesus from the dead, the same supernatural power that  inhabits his followers.

When we really grasp the identity of Jesus, our identity changes. A revelation of Jesus shows us our purpose and our mission. If your revelation of Jesus has grown dim, pray for fresh anointing. Revelation is offered freely to everyone who seeks it.

Dear God, I ask you today to refresh my revelation of who Jesus really is. I know he is the son of the living God. I know Jesus paid the price for my forgiveness and my freedom. Immerse my identity, purpose, and mission in the identity of Christ. In the name of Jesus, amen.

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Potential Is a Strange Thing

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Potential is strange. We may fail to live up to our potential. We may over achieve and exceed our potential. Nobody really knows how much potential they have. The problem is that potential is difficult to evaluate and, honestly, none of us are very good at estimating potential.

Case in point: Thomas Alva Edison was one of the most innovative inventors in history. His creation of the light bulb and the telephone forever changed the way we live. His 1,094 patents remain an American record.

But people weren’t very accurate judges of Edison’s potential. One of his teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” His bosses weren’t feeling his potential either, as he was fired from his first two jobs. He tried over 1,000 times before he invented a viable light bulb.

It looked as though Edison had very little potential. But people are generally unable to correctly measure another person’s potential, and we constantly underestimate our own. Only God really knows the potential within us.

God created our potential. He’s the only one who truly knows what we are capable of becoming and doing. Without God in our lives, we are incapable of maximizing the astounding potential housed within us. But with God in our lives, it’s a whole different story. With God, nothing is impossible for us.

Potential is like a seed. A seed contains the potential for life and growth, possibly the potential for blossoms, fruit, or towering trees. Yet, seeds look unassuming and outwardly give no clue to the potential locked inside. Who would think to look at it that a small black watermelon seed could grow into a huge, juicy, pink-and-green watermelon? Potential comes from what is inside, not the outside appearance.

Just as a seed must be planted to reach its potential, we must be rooted in God to reach our potential. We must accept Jesus as our Savior, spend time in prayer, and devote ourselves to God’s word. We must be obedient to God’s direction in our lives.

Friend, you are filled with immense potential give to you by the God who created you. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” That’s a powerful statement: With the strength of Christ enabling us, there’s nothing we can’t do. Every action we take and every word we speak is filled with potential and power.

What has God called you to do? What dream has he placed deep in your heart? What have you longed to do for God, but were too afraid of failure to try? Believe in your identity in Christ. Believe in your God-given potential. In obedience and faith, take your next step.

Father God, I am grateful for the potential and purpose you placed in my life. I put my hope, trust, and faith wholeheartedly in you. When I am tempted to focus on my flaws and weaknesses, turn my eyes toward your holiness and strength. Help me believe your word when it says I can do all things through Christ. Show me my next step and give me courage to take it. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Have a comment or a prayer request? We’d love to hear from you and to hold you up in prayer. Just leave a message for us in the “Reply” section below.

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Nothing Lacking

“The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1)

Do you worry about not being enough? Strong enough. Successful enough. Patient enough. Smart enough. Do you sometimes feel you’re just not good enough? Our insecurities and feelings of inadequacy often cause us to question whether we’re enough.

The truth is, we’re not enough. We never will be. On our own, our best efforts shrivel up like an old leaf blown away by the wind (see Isaiah 64:6). We weren’t created to be enough on our own. We were created to be made complete by God. We can’t be a good enough parent, a good enough spouse, or even just a good enough person without God.

We’re not enough. But, with God…we are more than enough.

Moses worried that he wasn’t enough. God interrupted Moses’s ordinary day with a very extraordinary sight—a bush on fire that didn’t burn up!  God told Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. In spite of the burning bush and God’s clear direction, Moses argued with God: “I am not a great man! How can I be the one to go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).

Moses begged God to send someone else. He told God all the reasons he would fail in this mission, all the reasons he wasn’t enough.

God finally instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh that “I AM” sent him. Moses said, “I’m not enough.” But God said, “I AM.”

We’ve all felt inadequate at some point in our lives. And that’s OK. We don’t have to be adequate because our God is completely adequate. We don’t have to be strong because God is strong in our weakness. We don’t have to be smart because we have the mind of Christ. Anytime we say, “I’m not enough,” God says, “I AM.”

Colossians 2:10 says, “And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need…” We aren’t missing or lacking anything. We are complete. Christ in us is enough.

Still not sure? Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” God has everything we need. When we feel we aren’t enough, it is his great delight to give us what we need.

As a child of God, we never have to worry about coming up short or not being enough. Because of God’s grace, we are always enough.

Dear God, when my faults and inadequacies make me feel less than enough, help me remember your great love for me. Help me remember that any good thing I accomplish is because of the strength you give me and not of myself. Let me lean more on your power and less on my own. I know you will not leave me lacking. I know that when I am not enough, Christ in me is enough. In Jesus’s name, amen.

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The Enemy Knows Who You Are…Do You?

“…If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Sarah Connor: But I didn’t do anything.

Kyle Reese: No, but you will.

These words are from an old 80’s movie, The Terminator. If you’re thinking of watching it, we recommend you opt for a cleaned up version, but the premise of the movie illustrates something important about our identity.

In the movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger played a murderous Cyborg from the future who traveled back in time to kill Sarah Connor. Kyle Reese traveled back to save Sarah’s life because, unknown to her, she had an important role to play in the future. Her son would one day save the human race.

Sarah finds it hard to believe and accept her identity as the mother of the man who will save the earth from the killer machines. Sarah tells Kyle, “Oh, come on. Do I look like the mother of the future? I mean, am I tough? Organized? I can’t even balance my checkbook.”

Sarah struggled to believe what Kyle said about her identity. She saw herself as a flighty, struggling waitress. She couldn’t picture herself in an important role. She didn’t think she was capable enough or gifted enough to really impact the world.

Though she didn’t know who she was, her enemy knew her real identity. He realized her significance. And because of that, he was on a mission to destroy her.

Each of us has an enemy on a mission to destroy us. That’s just a fact. He knows our real identity. He knows the power of a forgiven, born-again man or woman who embraces their identity as a child of God. He knows the tremendous impact of people who pray, share the gospel, and spread God’s love like crazy. He knows the vast potential of a confident Christian to impact the future. He knows it all too well.

He knows who you really are. But do you?

In her book, “Girls with Swords,” Lisa Bevere says: “Satan has made it his aim to distract you from who you really are and what the purpose of your life truly is. It is his focused objective to lure you off the path of strength, life, and authority and onto a course of intentional destruction.”

Satan’s primary weapon is to trick us into believing his lies—especially lies about who we are and why we’re here.

Hebrews 10:35 encourages us in our identity: “So don’t lose your bold, courageous faith, for you are destined for a great reward.” We are people of faith, courage, and destiny. A mistake, a failure, or a setback doesn’t change who we are.

If you ever wonder who you are and why you matter, here’s the answer: You are a highly valued, dearly loved child of the most-high God, anointed for a purpose and destined for victory.

Dear God, it’s hard to believe that the creator of the universe loves me personally and has purpose for my life. Help me walk in the power of your anointing, confident in my purpose. Protect me from the lies and tricks of the enemy. Keep my eyes focused on you so that I one day receive the reward you have waiting for me. In Jesus’s name, amen.

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Peel Off That Label

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

Many of us have a storage closet, garage, or attic filled with boxes. We may even label the boxes with words like, “Fragile,” “Old Clothes,” or “Books.” Labeling allows us to easily identify the box we need. It’s a helpful organizational tool. We sometimes label canisters, shelves, office drawers, or other things. Labels are a tool we use to categorize the complexity of our environment.

Sometimes we use labels as a short cut to categorize people. Labeling boxes is helpful, but labeling people is dangerous.

We may categorize people by personality, by achievement, by race, by religion, by appearance. And, often, our labels are wrong, hurtful, and damaging.

We see the effects of labels in our own lives. What labels have been placed on us? Loser. Failure. Addict. If we hear these words about ourselves enough, we begin to internalize them. We begin to believe the labels. For example, we may start to accept that we are just an angry person. We think, “I can’t help it. I’ve always had a bad temper. I might as well get used to it.”

And sometimes the hardest labels to shake are the ones we give ourselves.

Friend, you are not your labels. If you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins and given your life to him, the labels placed on you by the world are no longer your identity. Your past does not predict your future. And your present is not your ultimate destination.

Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” When we are saved, our old, sinful self was crucified, along with all of those false labels the enemy tried to put on us. We are not defined by those false labels, but by Christ living in us.

We look to God’s word for true labels. God’s word says we are:

  • Lavishly loved. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God…” (1 John 3:1)
  • Highly valued. “For God bought you with a high price…” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
  • Planned with purpose. “…Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it.” (Ephesians 2:10)

The reality of God’s word completely supersedes the false labels we used to carry. When Christ is in our hearts, old labels no longer apply. It’s time to peel off those false labels and live out the truth of our identity in Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for the price you paid for me and the future you have planned for me. Lord, sometimes I lose sight of who I am in you and accept labels the enemy wants to place on me. Today, I reject those labels. I know that I am who your word says I am. My identity is in you. Help me live out the purpose you have for my life and not to be limited by false labels. In Jesus’s name, amen.

How have labels affected your life? Share in the Reply section below.

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Filled with Joy

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” (James 1:2-3)

Carrying a child and giving birth involves a lot of unpleasantness and pain. Morning sickness and nausea. Back aches and fatigue. Roller-coaster hormone fluctuations. Not to mention the pain involved in labor and giving birth. Yet, despite the pain and discomfort, women often refer to pregnancy and childbirth as a joyous occasion. Why? It’s joyous because the pain is temporary, and they know that in the end, they will greet their newborn, beloved son or daughter.

An expectant mother looks past the negative in the struggle and sees the positive result at the end. In the same way, we don’t experience joy only when everything is going our way. We can be filled with joy through the difficulties, through the pain, and through the struggles, because we anticipate a positive result at the end.  

Biblical joy is choosing to respond to external circumstances with inner contentment and satisfaction because we know God will use these circumstances for our good and for his glory.

That’s why James says that troubles are an opportunity for joy for Christians because troubles strengthen our character and enable us to better serve God. Because we know God works everything for our good, we can be joyful and content in every circumstance of our life, because we are certain of a positive outcome from every difficulty we face.

Biblical joy is not the same as happiness. It’s not the result of success or circumstances—it’s so much more! Joy is a supernatural fruit produced in the lives of those who follow Jesus.

Joy gives us strength. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Interestingly, negative emotions such as anger, fear, and hopelessness are associated with many health issues, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders, and infections. On the other side of the spectrum, positive emotions such as gratitude, contentment, and expectation of a good outcome result in longer, healthier lives. The joy of the Lord brings contentment and optimism. Joy strengthens our spirit and our body.

In every situation, we make a choice. Will we choose worry? Will we choose resentment? Will we choose fear? Or will we choose to look beyond our current circumstances and focus on the faithfulness of our heavenly father? Joy is a choice. Choose joy.

Heavenly father, I know you are the source of joy. Thank you for giving me access to a supernatural joy that transcends my circumstances. Fill me to overflowing with joyful, calm contentment, knowing that every moment of my life is covered in your unfailing love and guarded with your unsurpassed wisdom. I know joy is a choice. Help me choose joy. In Jesus’s name, amen.

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The Greatest of These

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23)

The Beatles said all you need is love. Maybe, like Elvis, you can’t help falling in love. Or maybe, like Foreigner, you want to know what love is. According to Pat Benatar, love is a battlefield. And too bad for Johnny Lee—he was looking for love in all the wrong places!

Everybody wants to be loved. Perhaps that’s why so many songs are all about finding that special person and falling in love.

But the love mentioned in Galatians 5:22 is different. It’s from the Greek word, “agape,” and it means to love someone the way God loves us. When the Holy Spirit fills our lives, we are empowered to love others the way God loves us.

How does God love?

He loves sacrificially. He loved us so much that he sent Jesus to die for our sins.

He loves unconditionally. He loves us regardless of our past mistakes or our current jacked-up situation. We don’t have to deserve his love to receive it.

He loves unfailingly. God always loves. He doesn’t stop when he’s tired, or grumpy, or feels slighted. He doesn’t stop when those he loves are unlovable. He just keeps loving.

Jesus told us in Mark 12:30-31 that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is the great challenge of our lives—to love God and other people. Steadfastly. With our whole hearts. Even when they don’t deserve it.

Such a lofty challenge requires the Holy Spirit to accomplish. On our own, we can’t love like God. To produce this fruit requires the power and enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Bob Goff said, “We will become in our lives what we do with our love.” Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”  (See John 13:33.)

There’s no getting around it. Our lives must produce more than pop-song love. We must produce the fruit of sacrificial, unconditional, unfailing love. Agape love. The kind of love the Holy Spirit will pour into our souls if we ask him.

Dear Father in heaven, I want to love you with my whole heart. Search my heart and cleanse me from anything that interferes with my ability to love you wholeheartedly. Show me how to let your sacrificial, unconditional, unfailing love flow into my heart, and then out into the world. I want the world to see that I am your disciple because of the steadfast love I pour into others. In Jesus’s name, amen.

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Good Tree, Bad Tree

“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (Matt. 15:20)

An orange grove in blossom is a delight for the senses. The delicate white flowers against the deep green leaves are beautiful to see, and the blossoms fill the air with their uniquely intoxicating aroma. But the blossoms are just the first act. The grand finale is the harvest of oranges.

If a person doesn’t know too much about trees, they could mix up an orange tree in blossom with a cherry tree in blossom. But when the fruit is on the tree, it reveals the type of tree with certainty.

An orange tree can’t produce cherries. And a cherry tree can’t produce oranges. Jesus tells us that, just as a tree is identified by its fruit, so a person is identified by the fruit produced in their life. Matthew 3:8 says, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” Another translation says to bear fruit worthy of a person who has repented.

It begs the question: What fruit are we producing? Is our focus more on our job than on Jesus? Are we more concerned about our neighbors’ annoying habits than about loving our neighbors? Are we more interested in our own comfort than in serving others?

We’ve all heard the old saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” It’s a wise saying. Our actions reveal our character. We can talk a good talk, but if our actions don’t back up our words, we’re not producing fruit.

Stop for a moment and think about your own actions. Do your actions prove your commitment to Jesus? What is one step you can take today to increase the fruit you are producing in your life?

Father in heaven, thank you for your love for me. Thank you for making a way for me to be saved, and for the opportunity to live a fruitful life. Open my eyes to the opportunities I’m missing. Help me take steps to be fruitful, and to take actions that back up my words. In Jesus’s name, Amen