winning takes on something new

Galatians 1:10 (NLT)

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

I like to win.  Just like a friend of mine who was sharing with a group I was in, there was a time in my life when I thought winning a game was really important.  I am still competitive, but winning takes on something new when God is in the mix.

If we are just trying to get ahead, to win a game or to be successful through the old definitions of success, we will do whatever it takes to get ahead.  That might mean hurting people, cheating or just about anything.  None of that is true when God gives us the definitions.  That is not true when we treasure what God says more than what men say.

Do we really care what God thinks?  Do we want what God wants?  Do we realize that what will last is what comes from and is all about God?

Winning takes on something new as we allow God to take the central place in our lives.

2 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)

And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.

That verse shouts at people who love to win.  There are people we know that will quit if they are sure they can’t win.  It is not so about the people who care about God.  We will be like the athlete who puts his eye and heart on the finish line.  Are we willing to train, to work hard so that we can win or so we can win people to Jesus?

Luke 21:19 (NLT)

By standing firm, you will win your souls.

We are winners when God is our guide and when God sets the finish line.  I pray that we will allow God to make winning take on something new in our lives.

Pray for these things:

Pray for Dr. Oliver Ali, an eye DR in our community, as he is in critical condition in a Roanoke hospital suffering from meningitis.  Virginia Wood will be having surgery today.  Pray for her healing and strength (write Virginia at PO Box 365 Fieldale, VA 24089).  April Haynes is battling kidney stones and will be seeing a specialist later this week.  Pray that she will get help and healing (write April and Joe at 336 Kenmore Ave., Martinsville, VA 24112).  Sharon Joyce asks us to pray for her brother Jimmy who is having lots of pain and seeking medical help.  Lisa Wood asks us to pray for her friend Wendy Gauldin who has a mass on her thyroid.  Continue to pray for Harry Rice as he deals with the affects of a stroke, for Frances Johnson as she battles several health concerns and depression.  Last, please pray for Laura Branch from our church.