Live Like a Champion

Picture it... 

1988... Ronald and I were young and spontaneous (which btw, we still are!). We would decide to do things on a whim. One night, when there was a trusted baby-sitter with my precious little ones, Ronald and I went out to enjoy some grown-up time. After a wonderful dinner and conversation, it was too early to head home, so we looked for something to do. As we passed by Coleman Coliseum we noticed cars everywhere... what was going on?   We decided to go in for a closer look.

The place was packed with screaming fans, people in all different colors and school logos. We didn't realize the event was almost over (no wonder it was free!), so we sat down to figure out what we had stumbled upon. In a moment the announcer started calling out teams and numbers that meant nothing to us... until he announced that the University of Alabama was the 1988 Gymnastic National Champions!!! What?? How exciting!  It was their very first championship and we were there!  Well, to say the least we became hooked and we've enjoyed Alabama gymnastics ever since.  

                                                                                                                                                     This year they won their sixth National Championship... RTR!

As I was reading one of my devotions recently, I thought of this event in my life and as usual God connected the dots for me to learn a lesson. Bare with me, maybe He will speak to you too.

Imagine you are a gymnast, you love the competition, it causes your adrenaline to rush, your palms to sweat, your heart to pump faster and your stomach to churn. 

Imagine you are in first place of the competition with one round to go. If you perform well, the trophy is yours. Your nervous, anxious and maybe a little frightened.  Just before time for the final rotation your coach comes to you and in an excited voice says; "You've already won! The team in second place can't catch you. You're too far ahead. You are the champions!"  How would you feel? You would be overjoyed!!! Your heart would be racing with a different kind of excitement, your stomach would be churning with a new sense of thrill...you are the champion!!! 

How will you go out and perform? With fear and nervousness? Of course not.  You would perform with a confidence that you've never felt before, you will perform your best because the pressure is off - the prize is already yours. You will perform like a champion, because that is what you are! 

Hebrews 12: 1-2  We have around us many people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne.

Paul describes life as running a race and our Coach has already told us we've won the prize... we are a champion!  

Jesus came to overcome the world. He ultimately went to battle for us. He IS and ALWAYS WILL BE the REIGNING CHAMPION and He has invited us to be on His team! So, as followers of Jesus Christ, we already hold the prize. Let's follow Paul's lead and get rid of the things that hold us back, let's throw out the things that get in the way, let's keep our eyes on the prize and live our lives like we are champions! 

As Queen so famously puts it... 

"We are the Champions my friends. 

And we'll keep on fighting till the end. 

We are the Champions, we are the Champions, 

no time for losers 

'Cause we are the champions, 

of the world!" 

In Christ Jesus... I AM A CHAMPION!