Heart of a CompetitorSample

The Thankful Competitor

Set
A Christian competitor is a thankful competitor. Every time you step onto the field of competition, your heart is exploding with thankfulness, because you are abundantly grateful for God’s blessings. You have a deep conviction that your athletic abilities have come from Him alone. Every stride, swing, shot, pass, goal and point is a response to God’s goodness. The way you compete is marked with a “thank you God” because you count all of His blessings in your life.

You have been given much by the Lord, and you are simply grateful for the opportunity to compete. Your sweat is an offering of thanks to Him. There is no room for pride in a heart full of thankfulness. A thankful competitor is a humble competitor.

When you are thankful, you don’t try to impress others. You don’t care if you are starting when you are overwhelmed with gratitude to be part of a team. You don’t put unrealistic expectations on your teammates’ shoulders when you realize God’s grace on your life. You don’t care about the scoreboard when your definition of winning is becoming more like Jesus every time you compete.

You don’t view competition as crushing your opponent when you desire to play in such a way that elevates all participants to a higher level of competition. You are not consumed with what others think, when you are focused on an Audience of One.

You don’t criticize teammates when you believe the best about them. You don’t have to play for others when you already feel God’s pleasure. Be a thankful competitor! With a grateful heart, much can be accomplished. Let the power of thanksgiving change the way you compete. A Christian competitor is a thankful competitor. –Dan Britton

Go
1. What are you most grateful for? How do you show your gratitude?
2. How can you become a more thankful competitor?
3. When do you struggle to give thanks? When is it easy?

Workout
2 Corinthians 9:10-11; 1 Timothy 1:12; Colossians 3:15; 1 Corinthians 15:57

Overtime
Father, I want to be a thankful competitor. Whatever I do or say, I will do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to You. Amen.

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