As a competitor, it is hard to give glory where glory is due, when others deserve it more than we do.
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| | The king said in reply to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to tell me the dream I had and its interpretation?" Daniel answered the king: "No wise man, medium, divinerpriest, or astrologer is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has let the King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last day." - Daniel 2:26-28 | | | |
As a competitor, it is hard to give glory where glory is due, when others deserve it more than we do. Training, discipline, perseverance, and drive are all characteristics that can propel an athlete to the next level, making good athletes into great athletes. But often after achieving a goal, we feel that it is our hard work that got us to that point. The praise, honor, and glory are focused on us as individual athletes. Part of FCA's Competitor's Creed states: "I do not trust in myself. I do not boast in my abilities or believe in my own strength. I rely solely on the power of God I compete for the pleasure of my Heavenly Father, the honor of Christ and the reputation of the Holy Spirit." Bottom line: the results of my efforts must result in His glory. To accept it for myself would be to rob God of His glory. Daniel had the perfect chance to take the glory from God the King, but he chose to give it to Him instead. |
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As an athlete, how much confidence do you have in your own abilities? What does it mean to compete for the joy of the Heavenly Father? If Daniel had scored the winning goal or was awarded the team MVP, what do you think would have been his response? | | | |
Lord, it is difficult for me to give You all the glory. Please forgive me for taking the credit so many times when my athletic accomplishments should be a fragrant offering to You. In my next competition, help me to understand that the results of my efforts must result in Your glory. Amen. |
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Dan Britton serves as FCA's Chief Field Officer and has been on staff since 1990. Dan played professional lacrosse for four years for the Baltimore Thunder. He has coauthored six books, One Word, One Word for Kids, Life Word, Wisdom Walks, True Competitor and Called to Greatness; and he is the author and editor of twelve FCA books. He still plays and coaches lacrosse and enjoys running marathons. He and his wife Dawn reside in Overland Park, Kansas, and they have three adult children and two sons-in-law. You can e-mail Dan at [email protected] and read his blog at GetOneWord.com. |
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