Part 2 of the previous post, as promised… and now, the how…

Everyone loves to win.  But exactly how does one do so, especially spiritually, since that so outweighs sports and even life itself?

In this particular post I’ll provide three truths, three answers, three solutions, three steps.

The first step is so simple and obvious that it’s surprising, no, shocking that so many don’t seem to really  realize it:  Before you can win, you have to understand and remain  aware of the fact that (ding, ding ding) you’re in a race, a competition, a battle.

Or put another way… before you can come in  first place, you have to realize that you’re in a race in the  first place.

I enjoy watching football games (actually, except for “full game”-worthy major matchups, just the first two drives and final/fourth quarter) but almost never on Sundays, mainly on Mondays – not because of any “religious” reason at all but because I can catch the condensed versions which have all of the ads and between-the-plays downtime edited out, which allows me to obey the Bible by properly managing/maximizing my time…

• “making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)

… and frankly just makes it much more enjoyable.

Last Sunday saw some superb games, marquee matchups; the first one went down to the wire and was full of twists and turns and tension (Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs); the second one, the night game (Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys) was even better on paper since they sported 10-2 and 9-3 records, respectively, but this one wasn’t nearly so close, not nearly so contended, but it’s actually the one which provided a fantastic illustration for this post.

Not once but twice in the third quarter, then yet again  in the fourth, a defensive player “punched” the football right out of an opposing player’s hands, producing a much-coveted fumble.

That’s exactly how it is with us and the devil!  He’s always running around the “field” of life, just looking for an opposing player (especially Christians, since unbelievers are already on his team as it were, per 2 Timothy 2:26) to tackle (attackle?) and better yet in his view, to strip the ball away from them (i.e., to make them stumble and fumble) and best of all, to injure and put them out of the game.

• “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
• “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:11-13)

[Side note:  These two passages are extremely similar, nearly identical in nature and message – even though they were written by two different people!  The first by Peter, the second by Paul… but both  by the Holy Spirit! (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16)  Just one of the many miracles and blessings about the Bible.]

Therefore, “step 1” has two  parts:  not just being actively aware that we’re in a race, a competition, a battle, but also who the opponent is and isn’t (i.e., the devil, not other people, per the verse just cited).

The second step is similarly simple and obvious:  you can’t come in first place unless you finish  the race!  Which is why, along with awareness, winning requires endurance.

• “yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach – if indeed you CONTINUE in the faith firmly established and steadfast… As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 1:22-23a, 2:6-7, emphasis added)
• “But the one who ENDURES to the end, he shall be saved [i.e., win!].” (Matthew 24:13, emphasis added)

And whereby cometh endurance, how exactly does one obtain it?

• “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” [Ding ding ding!] (James 1:2-3, emphasis added)
• “In this [spiritual salvation] you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ… And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” (1 Peter 1:6-7, 5:10, emphasis added)
• “All discipline [i.e., trials, tribulations, testing] for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:11)

Which is why a Spirit-superintended Apostle Paul could pen this potently powerful, proper perspective:

• “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

As is the case for so many biblical truths, a beautiful illustration of this can be found in nature:  one can plant THE BEST seed in THE MOST FERTILE soil… but if it doesn’t receive rain, that plant won’t grow, indeed, it’ll definitely die.  So too, it is the “rain” of trials in our life that allows and produces growth and lets us “ripen” and mature and “bear fruit” and endure, for without it  we would surely die (remain dead) spiritually.  Which is why I wish  it would “rain” regularly in my life.  Just like the plants.  [I almost never use secular songs (one-second  snippet in this case) on this website but because it proclaims a biblical principle and is perfectly on-point with this post, here’s one from four decades ago; if secular music offends you, simply skip/scroll past this snippet to continue reading.]

I dare say that, other than the Lord Jesus Himself of course, nobody in human history has experienced trials quite like the Apostle Paul

• “… in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.  Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.  I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23b-28 … see what I mean?!)

… which is why he (a) is undoubtedly the greatest Christian ever to live (no offense whatsoever to Abraham, Joseph and Daniel, who would no doubt be next on that list, humanly speaking) and (b) could truly and lovingly declare near the end of his life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8a)  [Side note:  How stunningly amazing that you and I, though nowhere near Paul’s level of spiritual growth/maturity, can still receive that very same crown! “…and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (verse 8b)]

The third step will fill the remainder of this post.

“Everyone loves a winner.”

“Go for the gold, or GO HOME.”

“Nobody will remember who came in second.”

These adages are demonstrated nowhere more obviously or fully (and often painfully) than sports and politics.

To wit…

• millions of children can readily tell you which team won the Super Bowl going back 50+ years
• millions of children can readily tell you who was elected President going back 235 years

… now ask them who came in second.  Few will be able to name even a few  prior to more recent years.

Want to hear a surefire way to WIN, not lose, in life?  I have (humbly he said) found the answer.

And it all starts with your mind!  Much more about that to come but in the time provided for this post, let me simply ask you a question:

How many times did you think about the Lord today?

Sadly, in many cases anymore, the correct question is often just “Did  you think about the Lord today?”

I get it.  Life is hurtling by at the speed of light or so it seems most of the time.  Everybody’s busy, by the “billion” things they need to get done and places they need to be, seemingly at once.

What I’m not saying is that we shouldn’t meet deadlines, run errands, and TCB…

… what I am  absolutely saying is that all of those things will be enhanced, improved, amplified, and accelerated when one puts priorities in proper order:  the Lord via the Bible (reading, studying, memorizing, meditating, praying, obeying) FIRST, and THEN everything else.

• “… that He Himself might come to have FIRST PLACE in EVERYTHING.” (Colossians 1:18c, emphasis added)

We (rightly) teach children to “mind their manners” … but it’s even exponentially more important to teach them (and remind ourselves) to “mind their MIND“!  Because literally everything else flows forth from that, from our mind, heart, thoughts, perspective.

• “Watch over your heart [i.e., mind] with all diligence, for from it flow the springs [i.e., matters] of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
• “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8)
• “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
• “[God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed [i.e., kept, remains] on [God]” (Isaiah 26:3a, emphasis added)
• “But seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

If you aren’t already doing so, I humbly and lovingly encourage you to give this a try, it will REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR LIFE:  Mind your mind.  Think about  what you think about!  Each week.  Each day.  Even each hour if possible but at least  at the end of each day, take inventory of exactly what you thought about that day, of exactly what was filling and occupying your mind, then strive to do better the next day in increasing  the time allotted for the Person and things of the Lord (especially His attributes and His Word, work, will, way, wisdom, and wonderful design for life – my “6 W’s for notching W’s”) and decreasing  the mindspace granted to the things of this world.

Yes, my friend, “notching wins” in life is as EASY as 1-2-3:

• 1.  REALIZE that you’re in a race in the first place!  A nonstop, supreme spiritual battle, against a brutal but beatable foe.  (Actually, beaten  foe… he just doesn’t act like it.  Yet.)
• 2.  Heed the rules and FINISH the race!  Endurance is absolutely key, which is why we should want  the rain, the trials, the tribulations, the tests in life, as the latter actually produce  the former.
• 3.  Mind your MIND!  Regulary take inventory of exactly what has been filling and occupying your mind, your thoughts, as such literally determines what kind and caliber of person you are.  (As I like to say about a person’s thought-life:  If you don’t measure  it, you can’t manage  it.)

This really will revolutionize your life.  It’s so true:  keep running the race, keep God and the Bible FIRST in your mind, your heart, your thoughts, and EVERYTHING ELSE will absolutely and beautifully be added to you!

 

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