A Mission To Win

Recently my husband and I visited a sports store. We wandered around looking at anything that might pique our interest, and I must admit, because sports isn’t at the “top” of my “most interested” list, I grew a little weary. I found myself looking for a bench to sit down. Resting on shelving — even covering a few yawns.

As we were leaving the store, I saw a sign. It read something like this: “I never take the court without my mission.” THAT caught my eye! Yep, this person was a champion — and while many of the values, and lifestyle would definitely clash vehemently with mine, I could identify with the champion heart throb. This person saw the victory before it came. The mission was clear. Win.

Obviously a champion doesn’t become one overnight. Anything worth winning has to be worked for. Priorities take on a different light. Discipline, practice, effort become best friends of the winner.

Go for it. Fall down. Get up. Learn. Go for it. Fall down. Get up. Learn. Go for it. Fall down. Get up. WIN!!!!!

In the learning process things get left behind. Things with lesser value that hinder the progress. Things that prove stumbling blocks and cause us to fall down. Clearer and clearer becomes our mission as we realize the things that hinder and leave them far, far behind.

As a child, ice skating was a definite part of winter for me. In an effort to help me get started. my parents bought me “double runner” skates. However, their good intentions soon found me frustrated. We were skating on an outdoor pond. The snow packed into those things tight as could be, making it impossible to move. So, I had to leave those skates long behind, go for it on the single runner figure skates at hand. You guessed it. A few “bumps and bruises” with lots of “get up and go for it” I was soon rewarded with lots of time enjoying fun on the ice.

It’s time to grow! A brand new year in our sights is more than turning over a “new leaf.” Time to embrace it with a mission! A mission to leave behind ANYTHING that would hinder us from surrendering ALL to Jesus. A mission to “press on toward the goal,” as the Apostle Paul put it. A mission to mature in Christ and become useful in His Kingdom — following closely the very tone in His voice. A mission to share Jesus with others.

When do we win? Ah! THAT is the question with a very good answer. We WIN when we hear Him say, “Well done.” Each victory here causes us to live in His smile, and get a little closer to the day when the champions reach home. When we hear that voice we will know — We have WON!

By: Janene A. Dubbeld/ For God’s Glory

Take it with You

“But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to wind the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13b-14