Champion: a valiant fighter; a person who fights or argues for a cause or on the behalf of someone else; defender; protector; supporter
Are you a champion for your wife and family? Do they see you as their champion?
The most obvious distinguishing characteristic of champions that sets them apart from the rest of the crowd is the heart.
At times we have seen an athlete’s performance stand out from the rest of his or her peers as a superior or record-breaking effort. Most of the time we will hear them described as a superior athlete or talent.
Occasionally, however, we hear of an athlete that stands out from the rest who does not seem to meet the criteria for athletic greatness. He or she is said to be too small, too slow, or too weak to reach the level of greatness that they may have achieved in the sport at which they compete.
These athletes who defy all conventional reasoning when it comes to greatness are said to have more heart than other competitors. The meaning of this statement remains a mystery to some.
In this case, the measure of one’s heart is not just the physical ability to pump blood; this kind of heart has nothing to do with biology.
The type of heart that makes these extraordinary people the overachievers that they are is the heart of the soul, which is measured by how deep they reach down inside for the strength and courage to lay everything on the line to achieve an ultimate goal that would be impossible to reach for and achieve otherwise.
When our bodies and minds are telling us we cannot go one step further, and we climb the rest of the mountain instead of turning back ... when we put ourselves in danger to save someone who has been injured or is in trouble, without regard for our own safety ... when we push ourselves past the point of extreme physical or mental pain to reach any goal and our body and mind are telling us we can’t do more or go any further, then we are operating on this kind of heart.
Because of Abraham’s heart, God chose him to be the father of His people. Because of David’s heart, God chose him to be the king of Israel. Because of Gideon’s heart, God chose him to lead Israel into battle against the Midianites. Because of Job’s heart, he did not turn against God even when he had lost everything, including his health.
God’s attention was drawn to these men, and He even chose them over other men. Yet the Bible tells us that it was not because of their physical statures or positions in their families or communities.
In Judges 6:15, Gideon responds to God’s call, “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
Why then? Why were these men the chosen ones?
That’s right. It was because of their hearts. Yes ... the heart of the soul.
1 Samuel 16:6-7 gives us a clear picture of what God is looking for when He sends Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel and Samuel sees Jesse’s tall, strong, handsome, eldest son.
“6When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!’”
“7But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”
God makes it very clear that He wants His men to have hearts of champions. A man who will, with the strength of heart to accept the calling that He has for him, and through Jesus Christ, receive all of the power and authority that God gives to carry out that calling.
In 2 Chronicles 16:9, God promises to strengthen you in your quest to be the best you can be. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...”
Are you ready to be the champion that God has called you to be for His Kingdom and your family? He has been waiting for this moment...waiting for you to step out in faith and trust Him so He can show His strength and love through you.
Rise up men of God! Reach down deep inside, commit your whole hearts to God, and allow Him to strengthen that heart of the soul to be the strong champions that He can use, and your families will reap benefits from for many generations to come!
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Are you a champion for your wife and family? Do they see you as their champion?
The most obvious distinguishing characteristic of champions that sets them apart from the rest of the crowd is the heart.
At times we have seen an athlete’s performance stand out from the rest of his or her peers as a superior or record-breaking effort. Most of the time we will hear them described as a superior athlete or talent.
Occasionally, however, we hear of an athlete that stands out from the rest who does not seem to meet the criteria for athletic greatness. He or she is said to be too small, too slow, or too weak to reach the level of greatness that they may have achieved in the sport at which they compete.
These athletes who defy all conventional reasoning when it comes to greatness are said to have more heart than other competitors. The meaning of this statement remains a mystery to some.
In this case, the measure of one’s heart is not just the physical ability to pump blood; this kind of heart has nothing to do with biology.
The type of heart that makes these extraordinary people the overachievers that they are is the heart of the soul, which is measured by how deep they reach down inside for the strength and courage to lay everything on the line to achieve an ultimate goal that would be impossible to reach for and achieve otherwise.
When our bodies and minds are telling us we cannot go one step further, and we climb the rest of the mountain instead of turning back ... when we put ourselves in danger to save someone who has been injured or is in trouble, without regard for our own safety ... when we push ourselves past the point of extreme physical or mental pain to reach any goal and our body and mind are telling us we can’t do more or go any further, then we are operating on this kind of heart.
Because of Abraham’s heart, God chose him to be the father of His people. Because of David’s heart, God chose him to be the king of Israel. Because of Gideon’s heart, God chose him to lead Israel into battle against the Midianites. Because of Job’s heart, he did not turn against God even when he had lost everything, including his health.
God’s attention was drawn to these men, and He even chose them over other men. Yet the Bible tells us that it was not because of their physical statures or positions in their families or communities.
In Judges 6:15, Gideon responds to God’s call, “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
Why then? Why were these men the chosen ones?
That’s right. It was because of their hearts. Yes ... the heart of the soul.
1 Samuel 16:6-7 gives us a clear picture of what God is looking for when He sends Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel and Samuel sees Jesse’s tall, strong, handsome, eldest son.
“6When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!’”
“7But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”
God makes it very clear that He wants His men to have hearts of champions. A man who will, with the strength of heart to accept the calling that He has for him, and through Jesus Christ, receive all of the power and authority that God gives to carry out that calling.
In 2 Chronicles 16:9, God promises to strengthen you in your quest to be the best you can be. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...”
Are you ready to be the champion that God has called you to be for His Kingdom and your family? He has been waiting for this moment...waiting for you to step out in faith and trust Him so He can show His strength and love through you.
Rise up men of God! Reach down deep inside, commit your whole hearts to God, and allow Him to strengthen that heart of the soul to be the strong champions that He can use, and your families will reap benefits from for many generations to come!
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
RSS Feed
