The prize isn’t beating others—it’s becoming the person God created you to be.

A lady once rebuked me for being too competitive. We were at a kids’ camp, and we sponsored one of the teams. The kids were around 12, maybe younger.

Anyway, in one of our softball games we were wiping out the other team. One of their players hit a screaming line drive that showed promise, but, of course, I made an amazing catch to break his heart. ESPN might have featured it among their ten best plays of the day.

All the guys on our team were, “Yes!” but our lady sponsor wasn’t impressed. “Let them score some. You’re too competitive,” she scolded me.

When the camp ended and I pointed the church bus towards home, the last thing she said to me was, “Don’t be so competitive.”

I wasn’t competitive after that. I was irritated.

Losing By Winning?

My goal when I’m playing is to win! I think certain problems in my childhood made me feel like I had to stand out in a positive way so that people would like me. Truth is, I remember the kids’ admiration of my catch as much as the rebuke from my partner.

And, um, psychology aside, I love to win and hate to lose.

Stomping Them In the Name of Jesus?

This can pose a problem. Instead of seeing other people as fellow runners on the same team, sometimes I’ve seen them as competitors for something that I wanted: position, recognition, ministry opportunities, etc.

The Bible says that we are in a race. “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize.” (Phil. 3:13, NIV)

But if I am straining to win the race, and I look over into the next lane, I’m surprised to see that the fellow competing with me. I’m not racing against others. I’m racing against the man God created me to be and to accomplish the mission that He put me on earth to accomplish.

You see, in God’s kingdom the race is not against the other runners; it’s against ourselves, running the path that God has laid out for us.

What does that look like?

How is this David different from the “competitive David”? I’m still competitive but the goal is different. I’m battling to become what God made me to be instead of stomping someone else.

The Bible warns that when we compare ourselves with others, we aren’t wise (2 Cor. 10:12). And there are certain character traits that grow stronger and stronger in a person who always wants to beat everyone. And these aren’t good.

Sally And June

I heard a story about an elderly couple sitting on their porch. Let’s call them Uncle Jim and Aunt Sally. A friend from the church, Sis June we’ll call her, walked by and started a conversation about spiritual things with Aunt Sally. Both tried to sound profound.

After June continued her walk, Aunt Sally remarked to Jim, “You know, Sis June is a spiritual woman, but I just feel like I’m a little closer to God than she is.”

Uncle Jim considered that a moment, then said, “Well, ain’t neither one of you crowding Him too much.”

Some years ago, I played a pickup basketball game with other pastors and missionaries. One pastor was obnoxiously aggressive and competitive. I’ll admit to being nettled, and I had to pray about my attitude (and the desire to elbow him in the ribs).

If I am always competing against others, crowing like the biggest rooster on top of the barn, I will bring out the worst in those around me. And that should scare me to death because my job is not to be top dog; it is to help others grow and succeed in the Lord.

So, I look at the Word of God to see how I’m running, and I try to see the man God created me to be. I run to be that man. You’re running your race, I’m running mine, and we’re encouraging each other because we can both win the prize that God has put before us.

Here are some amazing helps for you in your race.

There is a reward for everyone who wins his or her race. (2 Timothy 4:7, 8)

False teachers and false doctrine can slow you down. (Galatians 5:7)

Each one should evaluate how well he is running instead of constantly scrutinizing others in order to feel that he’s running faster. (Galatians 6:4, 5)

Winners discipline their bodies and their spirits. They run to win, not just to finish. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

Race winners aim to grow daily. They don’t settle for mediocrity (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Winners focus on the goal, not the past. (Philippians 3:13–14).

Those who finish well have their eyes fixed on Jesus, and they keep running, even when fatigue or discouragement tempts them to quit (Heb. 12:1, 2).

Remember, this race is not about outrunning others—it’s about becoming the version of ourselves that God created us to be and accomplishing the mission He put us on earth to accomplish.

Run your race. Become the person God had in mind when He made you. That’s the prize.

When I was younger and stronger, sometimes I’d take my wife in my arms and ask, “Why do you love me? Is it because I’m so good looking, or so rich, or because I’m so intelligent.”

She would give me one of those, “Are those the only choices their are?” and say, “I just love you. That’s all.”

So much for massaging my ego.

One day I had this terrible thought, If I ask people to praise me I’m egotistical. But, God commands us to praise Him. He even seeks worshippers (Jn. 4) Is He needy?

Turns out, it wasn’t one of those “Get thee behind me” moments. I think the question came
from the Lord and not the enemy.

Why?

-Praise is more for me than it is for God. Can my puny words add one
iota to His greatness and glory? Praise is just acknowledging reality.
-Praise is beautiful. “For praise from the upright is beautiful.” (Ps.33:1 NKJV)
-Praise belongs to Him. When we praise the universe is in order.
-When we don’t praise, we’re the center of everything. “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.” (Ps.
18:3, NIV)
-Praise brings us into intimacy with God.
God builds His throne in the midst of our praise. “But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.” P. 22:3 NKJV”
–Praise is the language of faith and power. When we see Him as He
is; when we praise Him for who and what He is, faith grows. And faith
is one of the three keys. I wonder if there are many people whose lives are marked by faith, whose lives aren’t also marked by praise and worship. David the warrior—Captain Israel, was also David the worshipper.

“Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the Lord!”

Psalms 150

We’ve got a guest writer this week–pastor John Leese, a good friend who lives in England after a long missionary career in Luxembourg and the Congo.

Some years ago a group of children from our Luxembourg City church were playing “church” together: The boys, all wanting to be ‘pastor’ worked out that one would play the guitar, one would lead the meeting with the microphone and one would preach … There was one girl with them who said, “Who can I be ?” “You can be Ann” the boys said… She replied, “I don’t want to be Ann, she doesn’t do anything!” – My wife Ann may not have had a visible public role in church, but her ministry took place in secret, alone with God, interceding, praying for the needs of others… and it still does!

Most prayer takes place in private, in secret. Jesus said, “But when you pray … (not ‘if you pray’ – the Lord presumed His disciples would pray!), go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6 New Living Translation)

The Lord Jesus often sought solitude to connect with the Father: Mark 6:46 says “After telling everyone good-bye [the Lord Jesus] went up into the hills by himself to pray.” (NLT)

Perhaps the most vital part of christian ministry takes place in secret, where only God sees: Acts 6:4 shows us what the Apostle’s priority was: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (English Standard Version).

Leonard Ravenhill was a British Christian and author who focused on the subject of prayer. He wrote, “The self-sufficient do not pray, the self-satisfied will not pray, the self-righteous cannot pray. No one is greater than their prayer life.”

Timothy Keller, pastor, preacher and theologian said, “To pray is to accept that we are, and always will be, wholly dependent on God for everything.”

Life can be very demanding for most people today. Most of us have learned that our ‘devices’, smart phones, tablets and smart watches are not only labour saving, they are time consuming. For this reason we must strive to follow the example of the first disciples: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NIV).

If we do we may well experience the same results that they did: Acts 2:43 says, “A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.” (NLT)

I long to experience ‘awe’, ‘reverent fear’ in God’s presence as the Holy Spirit displays His power healing the sick, forgiving sins and changing lives! If we have to transform our Church buildings into theatres, dimming the lights and increasing the volume to get people in, ok, so be it, but may they experience awe as God moves in power in their lives when they are there. For that to happen, we need to pray.

So, as the Father’s adopted children, through faith in Jesus the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit and ‘without any doubting’, let us “devote [ourselves] to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2 New International Version).