The Ultimate Prize

As I write this blog I am sitting in front of the television watching two teams battle it out for the National Championship. They have spent days traveling, practicing, and mentally preparing for the big game, but now they're in the heat of the battle. Both want to win. However, the team that winds up with the trophy will be the one who properly executes what they have learned. This is the case with our spiritual lives. We pray, study, and gird ourselves with all the principles for battle. Yet, how often we fail to successfully utilize what we have learned when confronted by the enemy. Instead of passing with faith we are preoccupied with fear. Instead of blocking with the word we back up. Instead of running we find ourselves resting. Knowing the importance of the game Paul says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." Well at present it's halftime. Each team is in the locker room being admonished by their coach. They are being instructed not to lose sight of what this moment means. It's the opportunity of a lifetime. They are being told that they can win regardless the opposition. As we all know the outcome is yet to be seen because only the future will reveal the ultimate winner. I do know that each team will walk back on the field believing they can win the game. So can you! The championship is yours.