“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” — Daniel 6:22
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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “champion?”
There are multiple different definitions you can find, but they all revolve around a similar idea. A champion is an individual who “defeats all rivals in competition.” Champions fight on behalf of someone or something else. They persevere under pressure, walking calmly and confidently through their adversity, with the belief that they will make it out on the other side stronger than they were before. Champions don’t listen to others who question them and try to bring them down. Their faith in their mission is so strong that not any one person or any one thing can get in their way of accomplishing it.
We are given many examples of what a champion is throughout the Bible.
God called David, a young shepherd boy, to fight the biggest giant of that time: Goliath. How would you feel if God called you to do something like that? David was uncertain; he was scared. Yet, he trusted God wholeheartedly. Because of his belief in God and in himself, he walked into that fight with his rocks and slingshot, and he succeeded.
When Daniel was faced with the decision to renounce his faith or to be thrown into the lions’ den, he chose to stand strong in his beliefs. He trusted that the Lord would be there for him, and he was not let down. The lions’ mouths were closed, and Daniel lived.
Jesus is the Ultimate Champion, the One others only pointed to. He carried our sins to the cross and paid the ultimate price. Yes, He was scared, but He had full faith in His Father. He willingly suffered and died because He loved us, and nothing is greater than that. After three days, He rose from the dead and opened the gates of Heaven so we could live.
These examples, and all of God’s champions, have something in common. None of them lived glamorous lifestyles; they were ordinary people. But because they embraced God’s role for themselves, they were able to tackle the most monstrous feats, coming out victorious on the other side.
God calls each and every one of us to take on the role He has for us — to be His champions. While we may not have to stare down a hungry lion or fight a giant, we will have to face challenges every day. It’s how we respond to these challenges that define us as champions.
Being a champion isn’t an easy thing to do. However, God doesn’t leave us to figure it out by ourselves. We were created in His image and likeness. That means we also have the Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ. How cool is that? With the Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ, we cannot fail. With the mind of a champion, we can go into every battle we face and come out victorious. God sees us as champions, so why should we view ourselves as anything less than that? We are His children, and that in and of itself means we have already won.
As you walk into your next challenge, whatever it may be, walk into it confidently with a champion’s mindset. Believe that God won’t let you down. He won’t. Stand firm, stand tall and know that you will come out of the trials you face stronger than when you went into them. You are a child of God, and you are indeed a champion.
— Emily Reitz
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