Giving Away Your Edge

Ever been edged out of a competition or race? Coming off the Olympics in 2024, this devotional is very special. So how is your faith training.  What's your edge?

Key verses Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1 corinthian 13:57 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Song: Whip

Transcript

Giving away your Edge

Key verses Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1 corinthian 13:57 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Paris 2024 Olympics really stirred up some amazing memories of my days as a competitive athlete. For those who don’t know, I ran track & field from 5th grade through my sophomore year of college at the University of Alabama. I was a sprinter, specializing in short-distance races from 100 to 400 meters. My favorite event was the 200 meters—long enough to feel like I could hit my top speed, but not as grueling  and long as the 400 meter.

Ah, the 400 meters—that race was a love-hate relationship for me. I loved the challenge, but hated how I felt during those last 90 meters. My calves would tighten up, and all that was left to rely on was my form and whatever endurance I had left. The minute you crossed that finish line, all you wanted to do was collapse on the ground, gasping for air. It hurt, but winning that 400-meter race or the 4x400 relay with your team made it all worthwhile. 

I remember a race at the Florida Relays during my junior year of high school. We had the prelims for the 4x400 meter relay scheduled for 7:30 in the morning. Being far from a morning person, it was a real challenge for me to get up, eat, warm up, and be race-ready by that time. When we arrived at the track, we found out that the lineup had been changed, and two very inexperienced 9th graders were placed on the first and second legs of the relay. The third leg runner and I were both experienced, so we knew we might need to make up some ground.

Sure enough, after our first leg ran her 400, we were sitting in 8th place—second to last! From across the track, Coach Doreen gave us that sweet but firm command, "You better catch someone!" When our third leg took the baton, she pushed us up from 8th to 5th place and was closing in on 4th. As the anchor, I took the baton knowing that to automatically qualify, we needed to finish in the top 2.

So, I took the baton and sprinted hard through the first turn, quickly moving us into 4th place. By the time I hit the back stretch, I was closing in on 3rd place, and just as I reached the 200-meter mark, I passed them. Now in 3rd, I set my sights on 2nd place and overtook them too. With just 60 meters to go, I was neck and neck with the 1st place runner. I finally edged ahead and leaned hard at the finish line, then stopped immediately.

But then, I heard it—the entire crowd in the stands yelling, "Wrong line!"

Yep, you heard that right. I had crossed the wrong finish line and ended up in 2nd place. It was embarrassing, and my coach didn’t let me forget it. The lesson here? Always run at least 20 meters past the finish line. Don’t let your opponent sneak past and take your rightful place. Because I didn’t run through the line, we got edged out on getting the ideal lane for the final.

One of the things I always stressed about was getting a good lane. Your time entering a final mattered, and so did your lane assignment. A good lane allowed you to see and feel your competitors better and saved you from wasting unnecessary energy on the turns. Being stuck in lanes 8 or 9 in the 400 or 200 meters meant you had to run harder because of the wider turn, even though the distance is technically the same. So yes, lane assignments matter—a lot.

Let me break it down more: in track & field, as well as in swimming, the best lanes are reserved for the fastest runners or swimmers through the rounds. The prime lanes usually are—5, 6, 4, 3 aka middle lanes—they offer the best positioning and visibility. So, when you find yourself in one of those lanes, it’s a reason to smile.

Now, you might expect me to tie this into “running your race for the Lord,” right? Well, kind of, but God showed me a different angle.

Think about this: What lane do you want to be in spiritually? Do you want to be in the prime spots—lanes 5, 6, 4, or 3—or are you okay with lingering in the tougher lanes like 1, 8, 2, or 7 aka outer lanes?

As sprinters, we must follow the lanes and their turns on the track to reach the finish line and win. It’s similar, to our walk with God, do we follow the spiritual lane or path He lays out for us through daily time with Him, seeking guidance when we need it? Or do we just do our own thing and not practice spending time with the Lord?

Olympians spend their entire lives training for the prize of a medal. Their success hangs on their dedication and lifestyle choices. Do we approach our spiritual life with the same discipline? Do we train our minds to start the day with the Lord? Do we talk to God throughout the day, in both good times and bad?

Spending time with God is like exercise for the heart and training for our faith. It builds the endurance we need for hard times. Having God at the center gives you that edge. I often think of Samson, the judge from Judges 13-16, who had incredible strength that was later taken from him when he revealed the secret to his strength. His hair was cut, and he lost the strength God had given him, and was humiliated before his enemies, the Philistines. He let his opponent outsmart him and learn his secret—once Samson did that, he didn’t have that one up or edge on them anymore.

Imagine if Gabby Thomas, the 2024 Gold Medalist in the 200 meter race, decided to share all her workout secrets to her arch-rivals. The would be the unthinkable!

So, as Christians, why do we sometimes give away our edge to Satan or someone else? Why do we worry, complain, or get jealous when we already know that the secret to success is endurance with the Lord? Our faith in Christ is our edge—don’t give that away to your competitors, whether they’re worldly distractions or the enemy himself, Satan. 

When times get tough, how often do people forget who they are or where they come from? When we do that, we fall right into Satan’s hands. He’s just sitting there waiting for you to false start in your race so he can humiliate and take your faith away. Rebuke Him, rebuke distractions that are trying to take your power, your edge away. 

While my daughter was in the hospital with countless neurological issues, my faith was tested and by spending time with God daily, my faith grew and had endurance. I was able to get through that tough time with my daughter and look at her today. She’s turning 1 in a month. God is good, because of him I kept my edge. 

1 Corinthians 15:57

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s Pray