Are YOU waiting for permission to WIN?
My husband and I do our best to always be learning, changing and growing. We attend conferences for our marketing business on a quarterly basis and I heard a statement from a speaker who said this, “So many people want the prize, but are not willing to PAY the price.”
Though this was a business conference, in my brain, my thoughts a lot of times go to spiritual principles I’ve learned or scripture I’ve read. And the first two that came to mind when I heard that statement were these two:
- Phil. 3:14 – I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. (AMPC)
- 1 Cor. 9:24 -Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (NIV)
Maybe like me, you have had running questions like…
- Lord, when should I do this?
- When should I pursue this….?
- What should my activities be today?
- Where should I go today?
- How should I grow in this area of my life?
All of those are good questions, and at some point they are good to ask. Although, once you know or feel led in a direction that you are supposed to be going, what are you waiting for? Why are you dragging your feet? Why are you jogging at a pace that would not win any race?
I think about competitions I’ve been in, whether they have been to lose weight, sports, or maybe it’s as simple as a board game over the holidays…. when I am competing, I. AM. ALL. IN. —- Simply put, I WANT TO WIN! I’m a bit competitive… and so is my husband, which I think has served us well in life. I was recently in a weight loss competition for 2 months and the last 3 weeks, I did 2 A DAYS in working out. I ran twice a day! The last week I even water loaded then water depleted to deplete my body of all extra water weight. I mean, I went to extremes. I knew I was at the front of the pack of those who I was competing against. On that last morning, after my early morning run, bathroom break, no food in me, I put my toes on the scale and had lost about 25 pounds! I felt like that was a solid weigh-in, considering I’m short, have 4 kids and had hit my wedding weight. 25 pounds was a good number. Though we were going by the percentage of weight lost, when my brother-in-law hopped on the scale it revealed he was down 45 pounds! 45 pounds!!! His weight loss percentage had smoked me! Sure, he did look like a different person… and of the 9 people competing, he walked away with our “kiddy” of $900. WHOA! I was a bit shocked I lost, but he deserved it.
As I think about how radical I got during our competition, I ask myself WHY in some other areas of my life have I not gotten equally as radical? When a read, for the umpteenth time the verses above, it reminded me of something that really does come naturally, that competitive nature, the competitive edge. Run in such a way to win the prize.
The Bible tells me HOW I am suppose to compete, I am suppose to compete to WIN! And whether that be with weight loss, book writing, growing our marketing business, the Bible tells me HOW TO PARTICIPATE. I am supposed to COMPETE TO WIN! Especially if it is already a calling that I know is something I’m God has called me to.
So, JUMP IN! Jump in with BOTH FEET! Get those boxing gloves on and FIGHT! Get those race shoes on, stretch and RUN THIS RACE! Run it not half-heartedly, but the Bible tells us, RUN TO WIN!
Have you ever been like me, hesitant to put your all into something? Share your thoughts or story in the comments! And hopefully, this can be YOUR TICKET for YOUR PERMISSION TO SUCCEED!
God Bless!
