We must not fear our opponents

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and

Every once in a while we encounter an opponent in competition who, by all accounts, is unbeatable, and it prompts fear in our team. Some opponents seem to grow larger and larger as we approach game day. The media reports and general word-of-mouth discussions depict them as giants. How should we approach such an opponent?

Your opponents on the athletic field are worthy of your respect. They are not, however, worthy of fear! The work of God’s Spirit within us does not bring fear. It brings courage.

Instead of fear, God has given us:

• Power—not just physical power, but power that comes from deep within.

• Love—not an emotional attraction to someone, but a powerful force that desires the highest good for those around us. Concern and sacrifice for teammates, coaches, and family—that’s real love.

• Sound judgment—not just doing well in school, but having a mental soundness that is related to doing the right things and accurately assessing the truth.

As we approach competition, we must not fear our opponents, but exercise power, love, and soundness of mind in a day of greatness in competition.

Dear Lord, give us the strength and courage we need to face oury opponents. Help us to see them through Your eyes and not our own. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Are you blooming where you are planted?

2 Corinthians 10:12  (ESV)

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

An ancient legend tells of a king who walked into his garden one day to find almost everything withered and dying. After speaking to an oak near the gate, the king learned that he was troubled because he was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine overheard their conversation and added that she, too, was upset, for she could not bear delicious fruit like the pear tree. The pear tree heard his name and began to complain that he did not have the lovely odor of the spruce. And so it went throughout the entire garden.

Near the very edge of the garden grew a little daisy. As the king approached, he noticed her bright little face, full of life. "Well, little flower," said the monarch, "I'm glad to find that there is at least one happy face in my garden."

"Oh king," she said, "I know I'm little, and not many people notice me, but one day I realized that if you planted me here, you must have had a good reason. So, your majesty, I've determined to be the best little flower I can be!"

Our King has planted a beautiful garden. Not one of us is greater than the next. It is His perfection.

We must come to a place where we trust that God has a reason for creating us the way He has and has planted us in just the place he desired. Comparing ourselves with one another will only make us wither. When we become satisfied in His creation (that is us), that's when we'll find true happiness".. and we will shine.

Let's give God our all our disappointments and be determined to be the best that we can be for Him!

Dear Lord, we pray that we would give our very best to You. Thank You for making us exactly like You wanted to and with a plan. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Keeping Things in Perspective

Psalm 118:8 (NIV)

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

    than to trust in humans.

A freshman at a local university wrote the following letter to her parents:

     Dear Mom and Dad,

  

     Just thought I'd drop you a note to let you know about my plans. I've

     fallen in love with a guy named Jim. He quit high school after his

     junior year to get married.  About a year ago, he got a divorce.

     We've been going steady for two months and plan to get married in the

     fall. Until then, I've decided to move in with him. I think I might be

     pregnant.

     At any rate, I dropped out of school last week. Of course I'd like to

     finish college sometime in the future.

On the next page, the letter continued:

     Mom and Dad, I just want you to know that everything I've written so

     far in this letter is false. None of it is true.

     But it is true that I got a D in Western Civ and flunked Algebra. And it

     is also true that I'm going to need some more money for tuition payments.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out her strategy, does it? Even bad news can sound pretty good if it is kept in perspective. How we evaluate ourselves and the people around us depends on our viewpoint.

Today you will be tempted to feel sorry for yourself. Don't! Lots of people would love to trade places with you. Before you get down in the dumps over whatever is bothering you, read today's obituaries to see how many people younger than you died yesterday or visit the burn or stroke rehab center at a local hospital.

Today you will meet someone wealthier, prettier, or brighter than yourself. You will be tempted to envy her or him. Don't! God doesn't ask you to be someone other than you are or to do things outside your sphere of ability. He only expects you to use your gifts with integrity.

Today you may feel the need to whine, blame, or make excuses for something that goes wrong. Don't! Take steps to put things right, but avoid making yourself look small by ducking responsibility. Even if it wasn't your fault, you will be bigger in your own eyes and everyone else's by taking a positive rather than defensive posture.

When all has been said and done today, you may be inclined to take either too much blame or too much credit. Don't! It may not have been your best day, but it almost surely will not have been your worst either. Submit it to God in prayer, and ask him to make the day count for his purpose in your life.

As this New Year unfolds let’s keep things in perspective.

Dear Lord, Thanks for the New Year You Have given to us. Help us this year to come to You in everything and not jump to our own conclusions. Thanks for caring and loving each of us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.