Post by Christy Mobley
I have a great strength—I’m competitive.
I have a great weakness—I’m competitive.
This may sound strange but our biggest strength can sometimes become our greatest weakness.
At least that’s how it is with me.
The other morning while waiting for my oatmeal to bubble to a boil my mind wandered to a conversation I had with some blogger friends the day before. The question was raised as to whether anyone noticed a decrease in the traffic on their blog over the summer.
(For you non-blogger friends this simply means, are fewer people coming to your blog site?)
Honestly, I hadn’t noticed because I try not to watch those things. I know how I can be. But, after the conversation I thought, maybe I should. Maybe I should go all out for numbers.
While stirring my oatmeal, I shared these new feelings with God. Within seconds I felt His response, “Do you remember the devotion you wrote last year?”
“Our key verse, Philippians 2:13, tells us God has a plan and purpose for us, and He’ll get us where He needs us to go. In His timing. We need not try to beat Him to the finish.” (When I Lose Patience With God, Encouragement For Today, December 4, 2014.)
How could I so easily forget these words God put on my heart?
You see, in the past I’ve only had two speeds, all out, and dead stop. I’m kind of an all or nothing person. When I go after something I put in 150 percent effort. That’s my competitive side. And at 150 percent, I burn out fast.
The God who knows me gently reminds me who I am and the reason I shouldn’t count numbers.
I’m not the only one with a counting problem, King David had a problem with counting too.
1 Chronicles 21:2 King David tells Joab, the captain of his army, “…Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many they are.”
Taking a census of who you have doesn’t sound so awful. Not on the outside anyway. But what are the motives driving the count? Satan can take something so innocent and cleverly tempt us to take our hearts in another direction. And that’s exactly what he did with David.
David’s heart became prideful.
Instead of having confidence in God’s power, He became puffed up in how God was using him for His purposes.
There is a fine line between the two we all need to carefully watch.
My all out 150 percent competitive nature can also become a source of pride. When harnessed by the Holy Spirit this gift can be a source for God’s glory. But when left to my own resources it can be my demise.
It drives me nuts to slow down because sometimes I feel like I’m moving at a snail’s pace while others are racing by me.
And I’m built for speed!
But first and foremost, I am built (created) for God. For His glory.
I’ve learned that I can’t look to my left or to my right. My focus needs to be straight ahead.
God wants us to keep going. To persevere. For me that means slowing down the pace to stay in the race He has set before me.
“I’ve heard that patience is slowing down to the speed of someone else. I’ve also learned I need to have a little more patience with God and slow down to His pace — the pace He has set for me.” (When I Lose Patience With God, Encouragement For Today December 4, 2014)
So why rush to count when God can do the counting for me?
There may be only one person who reads this post today. And if that’s so, I trust that God only meant it for one.
You.
And YOU count.
That’s good by me.
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Christy is a wife, mother, writer, mentor, and Life Purpose Coach. She is passionate about encouraging women to move forward, and press on through their struggles, seeking God’s presence in every bump and turn in the road. You can connect with Christy at, Joying in the Journey, www.christymobley.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
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Thank you for the gift of this post Christy. I needed it!
Katie, I’m glad it met a need in your heart today!
Love you friend!
Christy
Kelly, thanks for sharing Christy’s insights here today.
Christy, I see the truth of your words in my own life — and you’re so right: how can we so quickly forget the truth God show to us?
Michele, God is faithful is leading us back to the truth over and over again. And when we’re diligent to stay in His Word we see the truth a lot quicker.
Blessings,
Christy
Amen, Very encouraging reminders – definitely food for thought. Thanks for sharing!
Bomi, thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I appreciate your words.
Blessings ~ Christy
Yes! Yes! Yes! It’s so easy for me to “learn” this lesson and then forget it and need it all over again. Thank you for this reminder today. You said it so well. Always the gentle, kind guide…thanks friend!
No, thank you for your constant encouragement. Glad this touched your heart. Love you!
Christy
I can relate to several others who have already responded! I needed to hear these words. I am new to the blogging world.I seem to find myself running to the computer a million times a day to see if anyone commented or liked my post. If they did not, I am truthfully, disappointed. God is our biggest and most important audience. Thanks for sharing today:) God Bless you:)
Lisa, congratulations for your start on blogging! Isn’t it funny how we all do the same things but think we are the only one. God makes us all unique but yet we all fall into the same temptations.Thank you for being open and sharing!
Blessings,
Christy
I started writing late in life, and I forget sometimes that I chose to tell stories for the glory of the Lord. I send books to people who promise to read and review, and they drop off the end of the earth or something. Frustration sets in, and I find myself watching the hits on our website and counting, and doing all the things that self needs and forgetting my true purpose.
Thank you for these words of reminder. If God gets one of these books into someones hands, and they turn to Christ, then I have succeeded. Thanks again, I really needed to hear these words. God bless you.
T. A. (Al) Cline
God bless you Cline and the work you do for the Lord. He knows your heart. You know, I know, it’s easy to leave God’s safe place and go to the world’s counting place.
Blessings,
Christy
Thank you for the reminder that I count in God’s book! And thank you for running the race in obedience! Blessings
Thanks Christy, for the reminder that we should follow God’s pace. Like you, I’m just eager to join in and race if I see people moving faster than me. That competitive nature!
Christy has great words!
I love this. Thank you for your inspiring words.
Thank you Jenny. Be blessed in all you do today.