Have you been watching the Olympics? On nights that sleep doesn’t win, I’ve enjoyed watching those amazing athletes soar in their sports and been struck by the look on their faces when the scoring comes on the screen. The numbers tell their story, victory or defeat. Enough or less than enough.

I imagine what it would be like if my day was scored. But, wait a minute, it is. Whether it should be or not. All of us can feel a bit unfairly judged, can’t we? We compare our accomplishments with others or our younger selves and come up wanting. There is this longing to know that we’re really good at something. An Olympian at something.

I want something that was never promised. Now I know my problem and can face it. I will always be less unless I replace it with what God gives freely. Author Ann Voscamp says “grace is weightless” and she’s right because Jesus says “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30), Comparison and competition can crush us under the weight of their judgements. We were never meant to live under that burden. We were meant for abundant life (John 10:10).

The truth is that God creates and satisfies our unique needs in every way. This is a dynamic principle. It is never finished, because He is not finished with us yet. He is the Creator that knows His creation. So much better than they know themselves. There must be open communication between us and our Heavenly Father God. If we don’t make the effort or take the time to pray, our less will grow to more and more less. And as it grows, so does an emptiness that feels like the deepest hunger.

Why am I not replacing what is less with what I have an unlimited access to? I am the daughter of a King. And not just “a” King, but the King of Kings! Why do I forget how to pray for what I have need of? I mean really pray, with faith, believing, (James 1:6-7,  4:2, 5:16). My soul forgets to take my needs to the only One who can turn those requests into my greatest good. I don’t have to worry if they are in His will, because He gives me the safety net of His love that would never allow me to be the one who gets to decide what I get or don’t get. Truly, there have been some things I have asked for that it would have been a disaster if He would have given them to me.

“If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give to them that ask him.” Matthew 7:11

I love how Jesus says “Father which is in Heaven.” Can you think of a better place to see the wide expanse of our lives? He is the only One who sees how each prayer answered can be intertwined with other lives. The control of that has to come from “higher up.” Much higher up.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 103:19

God gets to decide what the “good” gifts are. He is the only One who knows and sees that big picture and makes the decisions when we replace our will for His as we pray.

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8: 26-28

There is a parable Jesus told in Matthew 12:43-45 that talks about a man that was less than he should have been for God and so he cleaned up his act but did not replace his less with God’s enough and the ending to that story is awful. Since there was empty space that the man did not fill with Christ, the evil came back into his life with greater force than in the beginning.

This teaches us that we cannot just stop a bad habit or try to change a pattern of thinking and then the good stuff will happen. We need to come just as we are, give our less than to Christ and replace it with more of Him. Right away! This is true with anything we are doing that we shouldn’t. Don’t just say you’ll stop, make a plan for a positive thing that will replace it and you will be less likely to return to what you were trying to get away from.

Let’s take our less, which leads to nothing more than a mess, and replace it with prayers for peace, His peace, (John 14:27). Let’s go where He leads us and when we’re not sure, just take the next step toward our passion and trust Him to reveal our purpose and His will. Remember that He will never lead you to anything contrary to what His Word teaches. Read the Bible, lots of the Bible! And don’t leave “empty” space. Replace it with more of Jesus!

And when the “scores” come in, we will be okay, because we know Who wins!

Notes: Post image by Melanie Lamb. The title for this post is a line from a Big Daddy Weave song. I highly recommend listening to their music, it glorifies God and can put good thoughts in your brain for the Kingdom.