When you surrendered your life to Christ you did not cease to have a free will. God created you to become His child, not a puppet.

Throughout the Bible you will find God referring to His people as “His children”. Remember the Gospel of John 1:12 …

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

When you have a free will it means you are free to choose:

• What thoughts you entertain in your mind.
• What words you allow to come out of your mouth.
• What attitudes you allow to be cultivated in your life.
• What daily habits you form by your daily actions, words and thoughts.

However, not only are you free to choose, you have the responsibility to choose what you think, say and do!

Over the years, so many times I have heard comments such as:
I am praying for God to control my mind, so I can think pure thoughts.

What do you think about that comment?

This notion is offered “supported” by the verse found in Romans 8:14 which says “Those who are led by the Spirit of God as the sons of God”.

Firstly, remember God did not create you to be a puppet on a string! He created you to become a son or daughter.

Secondly, this verse in Romans 8:14 (and others) says we are to be “led” by the Spirit, not “controlled” by the Spirit.

Let us go back to John 1:12.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. The word “right” is translated from the greek word “exousia” which in it’s meaning includes: power, right, authority, strength.
(English Standard Version of the Bible).

Remember the time that Moses cried out to God when Pharaoh and his men were coming after them?

How did God respond? With a rebuke! God’s response was:

What is in your hand? (He had a rod in his hand which represented authority). Do you see a comparison there?

What do you have in your hand (at your disposal)? The authority, power and strength delegated to YOU from God, to overcome anything.

So the question is: Can Christians have a negative mindset? If they so choose to yes. But they will obviously miss out on living the abundant life.

The real question though is:

What do YOU choose today?

Cartoon by Yuli @Copyright 2000

One of the traps I have noticed happen a lot in the lives of so many christians is the trap of passivity. I call it a trap because it is often unintentional as we earnestly seek to do God’s will. Other times it is a coverup for laziness.

The easiest way to explain this is not to explain it, but rather to illustrate it.

Let’s take a look at:

My Favorite Bible Story:
One of my favorite Bible stories, contains one of my favorite verses which comes from the mouth of Isaac’s servant. Do you remember the story? (It is found in Genesis 24 in the Bible).

Isaac needed a wife. The suitable woman was not to be a descendant of the Canannites where they were living. So Abraham (Isaac’s father) sent Isaac’s servant to look for a wife for Isaac back in their home country. Here is what happened:

• The servant (who’s name we don’t know) sets off for Mesopotamia and comes to the city of Nahor
• He prays to the Lord, setting out a sign so he could know the right girl.
• The right girl would give him a drink from the well when he asked for one, and she would also go the second mile by offering to give a drink to his camels also.
• Rachel comes to the well to draw water.
• He asks her for a drink – she willingly obliges and offers to water his camels also.
• The servant is overwhelmed and reveals his story.
• Rachel invites him to her house where he can meet her father and family.

The servant recognizes that God had led him as he said:

I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

I remember my very first mentor, Mrs Inwood (and I will share more about her in future articles) repeating this declaration over and over again. This was one of her favorite texts from the Bible, and it has become mine too.

I being in the way, the Lord led me — Genesis 24:27

There is nothing passive about that. This is a declaration of ACTION.

Now what would have happened if the servant had have sat on the side of the road waiting for God to show him where to go? Yes, he knew which country to go to, but he had no idea who he was looking for. He could have easily fallen into the passivity trap.

What if he did not feel like taking the trip. He could have easily sat on the side of the road, found no direction and then went back to report that he could not find the right girl.

But no, Isaac’s servant was not like that.

He was a man of ACTION.
He simply cleared up one doubt with Abraham (what if the woman won’t come back with me) and then set off on his journey. (verses 5-8)

He was a man of OBEDIENCE and FAITH.
He did not question the instructions, but rather immediately obeyed one he had some simple details clear. He went on his way, BELIEVING that the Lord would lead him as he went.

He was a man of PRAYER.
He came to the well and then said to the Lord (my paraphrase) – I am here by the well where all of the young women come to draw water. Now I am trusting You to show me which one is Your chosen. Here is how I will know. (verses 13.14)

Again – He was a man of ACTION.
He took a few minutes to “gaze at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not”. (verse 21). Then he acted.

He was a man of GRATITUDE
towards the Lord. Before he told his story to the girl, he bowed his head and worshipped the Lord. (verse 26).

Then comes the statement of ACTION: I being in the way Lord led me.

Are you one of God’s ACTIVE servants?

What does this story say to you?

Are you one of God’s champions that takes action?

Or do you sit on the side of the road waiting to be shown where to go?

Take action today and start allowing God to lead you as you do what you know to do.

Get “in the way” and He WILL lead you.

Your birth certificate shows you have a special right and a privilege in this life. You are also free to choose. You can exercise this right, or you can ignore it and live a life of second best.

What is this right?

You have the right and the privilege to live your life as a champion.

How does your birth certificate give you this right?
It is proof that you have already won the first race of your life, and against millions. You were born a champion!

So your birthright is your championship!

You are entitled to live your life on this earth as a champion.

Now remember in the previous article we looked at the Bible story of Esau and Jacob where Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup.

In Biblical times, there was a special blessing given by the father to the first born son, and this blessing was known as a “birthright”. Jacob and Esau were twins, but Esau was the first born.

How could Esau sell his birthright?
Because he placed no value on it.

How do we know that?

In a weak moment when he was tired and hungry, he cheerfully gave it away to his little brother in exchange for something to eat!

You were born a champion.

Your championship is your birthright.

Do you value your birthright?

Yes the question is:
Do you value your birthright? Are you living like a champion?

Or are you living like Esau who gave no value to his birthright?

Your daily actions either show you value your championship or they show you despise it.

You demonstrate that you that value your championship when you spend time every day training.

Real champions are always training.
They know that without a daily schedule that includes vigorous training to keep their bodies in shape and their minds focused on their sport, they run the risk of losing their championship.

We have established that you won your first race before you entered into this world.

Now the question is:
Are you training to win the next big race? What is this next big race of your life?

It is the race to achieve your goals and your dreams.

It is the race to achieve your WHY (your purpose for living).

This is a race (and a battle) against all of the negative influences around you.

To win this race you need to conquer fear, worry, anxiety, doubt and all the other negative words, thoughts and emotions that are around you.

A lot of these negative attitudes have most likely even got inside of you over the years.

These negative emotions and attitudes came from words spoken TO you, AROUND you and BY you. Every word you speak or think affects your focus today and will shape your tomorrow.

This race can only be won if you make a decision to fight and then act on this decision every day.

You need to be in top shape to fight this “good fight” This “good fight” is what the apostle Paul called the fight of faith.

This is why you need to train daily.

Champions never stop training.

Champions stay focused on their goals.

This fight of faith is both a battle and a race that is well worth winning, because the prize is high. The prize is the accomplishment of your dreams, your why (the reason you are here on earth).

And guess what? There is an even higher prize which will last for ever.

If you choose to fight this fight in fellowship with the Son of God (Jesus Christ), then your prize WILL last for ever, guaranteed.

If you make this choice (to walk with the Son of God), you are guaranteed eternal life (See 1 John 5:13 in the Bible).

So to recap:

• You were born a champion, with one race already won.
• You have the opportunity and the ability to reach your highest dreams
• You need to exercise your ability and combat the negative forces around you
• You need stayed focused on your goals as you run the race and push ahead to reach your dreams.
• There are prizes that are waiting for you – your dreams on this earth – and eternal life in the life to come.

The choice is yours - will you fight for these prizes? Or will you let your life drift away and miss out?

Ready to fight? Here are some suggestions to get started.

1 John 2:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Photo credits: Prostchampion and chunmin

What plans do you have for this year?

(Notice I did not ask, “what is your New Year resolution”. Resolutions usually do not last. Written goals and plans do.)

Champions have goals and plans, not resolutions.

Champions are always declaring (speaking) their goals.

You can tell a champion by the way he or she speaks.

You will hear a champion saying things like:

• Champion: Let’s make it happen.
  (A loser will say: “let’s see what happens”).
  .
• Champion: What do I need to do to make it work?
  (A loser will say: “well if it works out ..”)
  .
• Champion: I believe that success is for me. I KNOW that God wants me to succeed (In the Bible, John 10:10 tells me that Jesus came so that I could enjoy abundant life). So I always expect the very best!
  (A loser will say: “Let’s wait and see, perhaps something good will come of this”)
  .

Your words can change the atmosphere around you and your mood, and in this way they create your present.
Your words also predict your future.

Do you notice a pattern in the words spoken by a champion and those spoken by a loser in the above examples?

The words of a champion are ACTIVE and full of positive expectation.

The words of a loser are PASSIVE and have no real expectation at all. A loser’s attitude is “que sera sera”.

Do you want your life to be driven by the wind of circumstances and the wills of others? — or
Do you want to be the one who influences your life and circumstances?

Do you want to create a life that is destined for success? — or
Do you want your life to be full of uncertainty?

The difference is the words you speak. (And you will speak what you are listening to or hearing).

So here is the challenge to create a 2010 full of championships and triumphs!

• Make sure you are listening to the right words. (The Bible is full of the words of champions).
• Make sure you are reading the right words. (When you read, you repeat in your mind what your eyes see. So reading is also listening).
  .
• Take time every day to read inspirational books (a chapter of the Bible a day is a great start).
  .
• Take time every day to listen to motivational mp3s, cds or watch motivational videos or mp4s.

Here’s a great way to increase the size of your motivational library (and it’s free). Download these mp3s (audio) and mp4s (video) right now.

Listen to at least one today (they will play on any media player, or of course on your computer).

Here’s that link again. Download these right now, and get started right away with making sure that your 2010 will be a great year, as you immerse yourself in great motivational teaching.

Suggested reading: (Click on the following titles).
Champions are Born, Losers are Made

The Everyday Visionary: Focus Your Thoughts, Change Your Life

The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Of course this miracle in itself is more than enough reason for all the world to celebrate.

But inside the story of this wondrous event there is a second miracle which is like a hidden treasure.

Let’s see if we can uncover this treasure!

The first miracle of Christmas is:
Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in the city of David. (These words are found in the book of Luke 2:11)

It is inside of the account of the birth of Christ as told by the book of Luke, that you can find a clue that will lead you to discover the second miracle.

This gospel of Luke, which is the third book of the New Testament of the Bible, gives the account of the angel meeting with Mary and letting her know that she has been especially chosen by God out of all women.

Let’s look closely at the words that the angel used when he first approached Mary.

The angel came to her and said, “Hail (greetings), you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women”. Luke 1:28

Many years ago I did a study of the Greek words that are used in this greeting.
(Note: the New Testament of the Bible was first written in the Greek language. From there is was translated into English and thousands of other languages).

The word that really caught my attention was the Greek word “charitoo” which is translated in English as “highly favored”.

Mary was singled out among all other women to be the bearer of this incredible miracle – the miracle of the Son of God born to be the Savior of the world.

She was highly favored among women.

Here is an interesting fact:
Do you know that this word “charitoo” is only found twice in the Bible?

The second miracle of Christmas:
The other place where this word is found is in the book of Ephesians. The book of Ephesians is one of the apostle Paul’s letters to the churches.

Paul is writing to a group of people who have decided to follow Christ and allow Him to be the Lord of their lives. As a consequence this group is known as the “faithful in Christ Jesus”. Read on to see proof of this.

Paul starts this letter by giving great praise to God for the incredible blessings that He planned for the “faithful in Christ Jesus”. (See Ephesians 1:1). Then he continues on by saying:

To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein he hath made us accepted (charitoo) in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6).

Yes that English word “accepted” is translated from the same Greek word “charitoo”.

The second miracle of Christmas is that because of Jesus, you and I can also become highly favored in God’s eyes (when we are IN Christ Who is the beloved).

How can you become one who is IN Christ?
By receiving Him as Savior and Lord of your life which means you will follow His leadership in your life and so become one of the “faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1).

This is the gift that God offers you at Christmas – eternal life in Christ.

(This eternal life is not just living forever, but it is also a quality of life. It is the abundant life that Jesus talks about in John 10:10).

The best gift that you can give to God at this special time is to accept His gift.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John 1:12.

The two miracles of Christmas are both God’s gift to you. What is your gift to Him? Will you accept His gifts?

May the two miracles of Christmas be real in your life as you celebrate this special season with your family and friends.

Credits: Photo by rightee