A Determination to Win

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do.
–Philippians 3:13

Living above your circumstances also takes a determination to win. This is an essential part of your game plan for success in life as a Christian. Paul said in Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do.”

Notice that phrase “one thing I do.” We can probably all mention a few athletes who have succeeded in multiple sports. But for the most part, the greatest athletes are those who specialize in one sport. They eat, breathe, and drink that sport, whatever it is. It’s the same way in the Christian life. The only people who really succeed in the Christian life are those who say, “This is the one thing I’m going to do.”

The reason so many Christians are unable to maintain outrageous joy or succeed in the Christian life is that they’re doing a multiplicity of things. Yes, on Sundays they get all these religious feelings and they think, “I want to be a Christian and please God.” But then Monday comes around and they are interested in other things. They are pursuing other goals.

This is not the game plan for living above your circumstances. On the contrary, Paul was saying, “If you’re going to succeed in living a life that is pleasing to God, you must come to the point when you decide, ‘If I don’t accomplish anything else, I am determined that I will live my life for an audience of one. I am going to please God. This is the one thing I am going to do.’”

The apostle Paul had figured out the one thing worth giving his life to. Whether in this world or the next, his number one desire was “to be pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). To succeed in your relationship with God, you’ve got to have a determination to win.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Holy Sweat” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2007.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.