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THE TEN BUILDING BLOCKS IN BECOMING A “CHAMPION FOR CHRIST”
1) Think The Right Kind Of Thoughts
• Champions think thoughts that are positive, correct, big, pure, and unique. Every action begins as a thought, so make sure your thoughts are taking you in the direction you want to go.
• “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8 Philippians 4:8
2) Say The Right Kind Of Words
• Champions know that the words they speak have tremendous power. Words can heal or hurt, build or tear down. Proper use of words will cause people to think of you as an intelligent, competent, caring person.
• But if you use words in the wrong context, are careless when it comes to grammar, or sprinkle your speech with slang, people who matter will tend to look down on you.
• “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 Ephesians 4:15
3) Set Specific Goals
• Write down your goals, make plans to achieve them, and work on your plans every single day. This advice, if you follow it, will be of more help to you than anything you could ever learn. Setting goals and pursuing them takes persistence and self-discipline, but it is well worth the effort.
• “We make it our goal to please him [God].” 2 Corinthians 5:9 2 Corinthians 5:9
• “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 Philippians 3:14
4) Take Responsibility For Your Actions
• Champions don’t whine about things they can’t control. They don’t look for someone or something to blame for their lack of success in life. Instead, they take responsibility for who they are and strive to do the best they can with the hand they’ve been dealt.
• They know that only about 10 percent of life is made up of what happens to you, and the other 90 percent has to do with what you do with what happens to you!
• “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 Romans 10:9
5) Choose The Right Kind Of Friends
• The people with whom you surround yourself can help you succeed, or they can cause you to fail. That is why it is important to have friends who are able to bring out the best in you, who share your belief in God, and who are wise, loyal, and encouraging at all times.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 describes the love that ought to be lived out between friends who share the common bond of faith in Christ: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.”
• “Cultivate wrong friendships and you’re a goner. That is why we’re warned not to be deceived regarding the danger of wrong associations. Without realizing it, we could be playing with fire.” Charles Swindoll Charles Swindoll
6) Remember That Character Counts
• Champions work on developing the following character traits: commitment, honor, attitude, responsibility, abstinence, courage, truthfulness, ethics, and reputation.
• “Character embodies all of who you truly are. It is the inner fiber of your being. It is your inner self in action. It reveals what you are truly made of. It’s your substance.” John Maxwell
• Charles Swindoll once wrote, “Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner tests – remaining faithful when nobody’s looking; enduring pain when the room is empty; standing alone when you’re misunderstood?”
• “In everything, do to others that you would have them do to you.” Matthew 7:12
7) Turn Failures Into Strengths
• Champions understand that failure is an inevitable part of life for anyone who tries to do anything more than stay in bed with the covers pulled up over his or her head. Because they understand that failure is inevitable, champions do everything they can to learn and grow from their mistakes.
• “I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but by how high he bounces when he hits bottom.” George S. Patton George S. Patton
• “I make more mistakes than anyone else I know, and sooner or later I patent most of them.” Thomas Edison Thomas Edison
• In the John 16:33, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
8) Never Give Up
• No matter what obstacles seem to be in their way, champions keep on putting one foot in front of the other, heading directly toward their goal. Champions NEVER give up!
• God wants us to know that we can trust Him in any situation. Our job is to keep on going no matter what obstacles may be in our way.
• “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 Hebrews 12:1-2
9) Go The Extra Mile
• Champions do more than are expected of them. They work harder on the job. They try harder in their relationships. They spend more time trying to develop their God-given talents. They know that a person with a small amount of talent who works very hard will go much further than a person with a great deal of talent who isn’t willing to make that extra effort.
• “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:41-42
10) Live By Faith In Jesus Christ
• Champions choose to believe in and have faith in Jesus Christ. Through this commitment and love for God, they experience the incredible difference that faith makes in their lives. When you live by faith in our Lord and Savior, here a few wonderful things you will discover:
- Giving your life to Christ will change everything.
- Living by faith is an exciting adventure. You will have many blessings, opportunities, and even some challenges in your life here on earth. Through it all – always remember that:
God is ALWAYS here for you and He will NEVER leave you!
• Finally, dedicate yourself to doing the very best you can to make yourself a better person and the world a better place to live. Cling to God’s hand at all times. Do what you can to touch others with His love.
• Do all this, and someday, when your life is over, you will hear these wonderful words from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Himself: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21 Matthew 25:21
Information for this series was taken from a book written by Pat Williams entitled, “Who Wants To Be A Champion?”
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