Competing for an Audience of One

During Competition

"Mid-game, when the pressure is on, who are you playing for?"

It’s natural to want to impress coaches, teammates, and fans. But when we play for the approval of others, we lose sight of our ultimate purpose. Colossians 3:23 encourages us to give our best effort in everything we do. Our goal isn’t to seek human approval but to give our best as if we are working for God Himself.

When I was in kindergarten, my mom was my basketball coach. Even when we were young, she never let us lose our true focus. After every practice, my mom would make our team say, “I am third, others are second, God is first.”

This didn’t mean we held back and let the other team win. We competed hard. But when we remembered that God was first, we played for Him. If our actions didn’t show that we belonged to Christ, we lost, no matter the score. This meant we played with others in mind, treating them the way we wanted to be treated. As I got older, with new emotions and more on the line in games, it was harder to remember to keep God first. But every time I focused on playing for God and not my parents or coaches, it brought peace. It allowed me to compete at my best.

When we compete for others and not God, these things may happen:

• Anxiety fills you. You worry you might disappoint your coach or parents.
• Even with your accomplishments, you remain unsatisfied.
• Your emotions are based on what others say about you and your performance.
• You stop looking forward to competing and ask yourself, “Why am I even doing this?”
• Success makes you happy in the moment, but you still feel empty when it’s over.

You are not alone if you have ever felt any of these things. I have experienced them myself. But over time I have realized that I'm not playing for a medal, another person, or myself. I’m playing for God.

Jesus teaches us to serve one master. We are to align our actions with God's will, not others' expectations. This frees us to compete with joy and integrity. He gave us these passions so that we can compete for His glory, not to please others. When I have played for Him, my joy in my sport has only increased!

Connection:

Consider what may happen if your focus during the game wasn’t on impressing others but on glorifying God. How might this change how you handle pressure or mistakes?

Application Questions:

• Who do you try to impress during competition?
• How can you redirect your focus to make your effort an act of worship?

Prayer:

"Father, as I compete, help me focus on You. May my effort and attitude reflect my love for You, rather than a craving for others’ approval. Help me remember that sport is a gift You have given me. And that I can love it in a way that glorifies You. Amen."