How to Win a Race That's Already Won

I got something to share,

Something to say,

Something about,

How we play,

It’s not about me,

It’s not about you,

Just a little about,

The things that we do,

Try not to judge,

Assume, or read in,

I just want to share,

Away we can win!

Every moment of our race is for the win!

We often say, “We’re looking forward,” are we? Or do we look at others along the way? Do we glare, staring, assuming, questioning, and even judging people without truly knowing them? Some worldly fear keeps a distance between people until they learn to connect with those around them, looking deeply into their hearts and those with which they come in contact. Each connection is essential, and we need to see with new eyes, thus seeing one another genuinely humbly.

Once we know someone, we often assume they stay the same during the times in between our connection to them. How sad to live in this assumption; it’s so limiting; this false reality doesn’t allow personal or spiritual growth. As people, we are prone to distraction and losing our way. Thankfully, God doesn’t give up on us the way we give up on others and ourselves. He is constant during the times in between and shepherding His sheep every minute of their journey.

Will we ever learn that one never wins a race when looking at the person's pace in the next lane? We say we don’t compare, but we’re so busy doing just that, often missing the exact purpose of the moment we experience. Sadly, the moment we have to do something meaningful, we can lose the chance, and it’s gone.

We admire the runner who crosses the finish line, looking closely into their faces, we see their focus, looking straight ahead, at least if they’re in front. It’s not about the run; it’s about trusting where you keep your heart.

The actual runner fully appreciates the races they’ve already completed. However, they’ve learned to look at where they’re going and not where they’ve been. It’s essential to use the lessons learned but to allow them to move us toward a goal and purpose.

It’s funny because we hardly recognize that each day the course changes, we change, and so does our purpose. When we run the race, it may be to get where we want to go, and then at some point, we realize it has nothing to do with us. It’s at this moment, right then, in this very thought, that we’re finally on track.

Sometimes we wonder about the “whys,” and we process them out loud. It is the way of today’s culture, as we live in a world full of technology. Social media is here to stay (at least for now!)

Now, social media can be a good thing, or it can destroy. It comes down to how are we using it, and are we using it for a real purpose? Are we learning from the races we have already run?

Are we critiquing our race, or are we busy critiquing the competition after ours, the one we have no clue about? We have had everything we need for our race today, but we are not to judge how someone else is running or her.

Only God has the power to start the runners each day, and only He controls the outcomes. We should be helpful to others, always showing love, but respectful of Christ's work in each of us. We must remain mindful that it’s not about us; there is so much more than we can see. Even when we think we have it figured out, we realize each race complicates and purposeful and not always as it appears.

So, why do we get caught up in the way, the how, then when? Does it matter? All that matters is to keep our focus on the purpose of each race, remembering we have no control and yet, to trust in that fact is everything. So why don’t we do it? Why don’t we believe in the power of God? We try to manipulate an outcome on any day rather than trusting Him completely. It’s easier to talk the talk than walk the walk. We need to be better at both!

We fall to the pressure of hanging in and lying low, getting by and pointing fingers, figuring out, and believing we are supposed to shine, rather than lighting up the only path for all of us that’s worth taking. We stop trusting and slip! Thinking is the polar opposite of how to win, and these are the moments we are missing our purpose. When dismissing, we are not submitting to God’s will, giving a little piece of our light away in the wrong direction, and our sun dims.

Why then don’t we work as a team, picking one another up, brushing off the dirt, and pointing toward the direction of the truth? We’re not allowing God to shine through us. We are His, and we should want to be used to light the way for someone, somewhere, every day — especially someone who doesn’t know how to have Him right at the center of their race.

When we know Him, His light dwells within us, and He uses us as a beacon for His glory. We need to be a bright light that our combined fire is wild and cannot be tamed. Isn’t that what Jesus did? Isn’t that what God does?

God sent His Son; He welcomed, taught, shared, felt disappointment, and loved anyway. He held His friends and followers accountable, lovingly, and with the conviction of the word of God. His word is the way, the truth, and the life. Still, Jesus suffered for all. He paid the price and ran the race, the only track that counted for all of us!

Why do we keep trying to run that race? We don’t have to worry about sin, we have to trust in the win, and it’s so easy if we keep going in the direction of Him. It doesn’t matter if we run or crawl, look good doing it, or the right people around us. It doesn’t matter who sees us or doesn’t because none of us deserves it or is worthy. He loves us anyway; He is waiting at the end of our race to give us the best ending.

Everything starts with a belief; believing and trusting in all things are possible through His strength, not our own. In the flesh, we give up so quickly, peeling away that trust that all will end as it should. It’s honestly just a matter of when we decide to give in rather than waiting for the race to finish in His timing.

Now stumbling is expected, even losing along the way is an option and will happen, but giving up, is the only actual loss. The loss comes in one direction; a decline is inevitable if we choose to flat out turn around, go backward, and forget that the race won. Then we deny that He is the win, He expects our denial, but God knows we are doing it, and He will use every strategy to convict us of His truth.

He will be ready to enter you in a sprint on occasion, putting you to the test. He may carry you through if you let Him. He will hold you when you’re slipping, and if you trust Him, it will be a fantastic journey. If, on the other hand, we deny Him readily, He will get our attention and gently lead us back on track.

It’s really up to us whether we pay attention because that whole free will thing comes into play. He will be clear, but the choice is ours, as in all races, you have to, at least, be on track and ready to run before it can start.

We are not perfect, and He doesn’t want us in a box, with the same people in the same place all the time. He wants us to forget about ourselves and share Him. If we think we’re not where we should be or think about the way, we may get caught in a downdraft of that fire that we are trying to build. Next time we feel that way, let’s fight it. How about we pull one another along, lift, use His words, not our own, and use His grace charts to win.

He wants us to bring people to the truth, just the way they are. He wants them to know he takes their debt, and God is the win! It isn’t whether you win or lose in your race. He will use our trials and peaks every time to build His Kingdom because His grace is sufficient.

He wants us to see through the idol of self, things, and earthly bounds. He wants us to go boldly into the fiery storm only to come out the other side. He wants us to walk with those who seek Him and are hungry, wanting to share in His win. Can we walk behind the turkeys or fly on eagle’s wings? The verse saying, “Cast, not your pearls,” comes to mind, throw not a stone, and just let Him work in you, allow Him to light the way.

Go ahead, you can start judging my race, but I will see you on the next lap because it’s all circles until we go up together.