Thought for the day:

"You can give up the need to compete in the world — when you accept being complete in Christ." Voskamp

I need to tell myself this on a daily basis.  Now let me preface this post by admitting to you that I am extremely competitive (mainly in board games and my husband's races- I will most likely be that mom yelling in the stands), but think how much of our world is  centered around competition... I mean, I'm currently packing my bag to head to Birmingham to watch the Rebs play (HOTTY TODDY!).  Not that football is a bad thing (or competition in itself, for that matter), but think how even sports can foster so much tension, malice and envy. Most relationships that are broken stem from some form of unhealthy competition... competing for the promotion, competing for someone's attention or affection, competing for the spotlight, etc...  Competition at its heart is seeking to put yourself ahead- and well, I feel like that is what the world is screaming at us every single day.  

I've been wrestling with this idea as I apply for positions and search for jobs.  Do a lot of people feel this way?  Whether you're applying for that internship, trying to get in medical school, or simply wanting to be noticed by a certain someone, that burning question of "What sets you apart?" gives us a constant excuse to compare ourselves to other people... in essence, to compete.  

The reality is, many of life's circumstances put us in some form of competition.  When you apply for any position, you are inevitably competing against someone else.  When you play a friendly game of Spades or a pick-up game of ultimate frisbee, you are competing against someone else.  What I must choose to remember is the attitude in which I compete.  I can healthily use competition to foster a better me...  We all can become better athletes, better thinkers, better students, and learn areas in which we can improve, both professionally and personally, with competition... but we must avoid making the competition the actual focus.

I'm thinking the key here is how we see competition and how we react to its outcomes... and how important the thing we are competing for is to us.  Its when we feel the need to compete, the need to be better, the need to feel important, and the need for the validation that comes with a win or obtaining a position, that we harbor selfishness, envy, boastfulness, and that ugly p word... (pride).  

Hart, you are better, you are important, and you are completely valid in Christ, and that's the only thing worth boasting about.

Move forward knowing that you are YOU for a reason and the plan He has for your life is perfect- whether you win the current situation or wait for an even more glorious win next season.