Prayer Focus for the week of August 31st

[TWUDCF, Inc. Online Prayer Ministry]

Bishop-Elect T. Anthony Bronner, Senior Pastor
August 31, 2008 – September 6, 2008

PRAYER FOCUS

Going for the Gold
Recent talk in the sports world, and the world at large, has been of
Michael Phelps, the swimmer. He is the only Olympian to win eight gold
medals at a single meet. The unprecedented eighth medal was for the 4
x 100m medley, which could only be determined by a team.

Upon winning, Phelps was quick to articulate, “The team that we had is
the difference”. Yes, he secured several individual gold medals, but
the most important medal, the one that gave him his place in history,
required team effort. There was no way he could have gone for the
record without his teammates. Frankly, he needed them to achieve his
purpose. His ultimate accomplishment demanded collaboration and
cooperation.

Interestingly, Phelps’ teammates, who had their own dreams of winning
gold medals, were willing to help him. One of them said, “He did
something that’s never been done before. We’re happy to be a part of
it”. So, he needed them, and they were willing to be needed even
though in the end the headlines would all be about him.

Are we willing to be on the team if we aren’t the star? Will we be a
part of the orchestra if we are not the conductor or a least a
soloist? Are we willing to be a presidential speechwriter when we
cannot be the President? There are goals to be accomplished – gold to
be won. But we must be able to recognize that in some cases collective
success is better than individual glory? Babe Ruth said it this way,
“The way a team plays as a whole determines its success ... “.

In the gospel, the lame man would never have been able to walk without
the help of his team of friends. The goal of his four nameless
teammates was to get him to Jesus so that he could be healed (Mark
2:1-12). Their willingness, teamwork and determination prevailed and
the man was cured. To accomplish the task, each man bore his share of
the weight by carrying a corner of the lame man’s bed.

Such was the case with the Olympians. Each swimmer swam a different
stroke in the medley. This is how teams win. Someone throws and
someone else catches. Someone writes and someone edits. Babe Ruth went
on to say, “You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the
world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a
dime”.

Subordinate egos can win the gold or the world. That’s right - the
world! Jesus sent his disciples out together to win the world: “Go and
make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:19).
They were not trying to make a name for themselves. Rather, their goal
was to bring glory to Jesus’ name. He is the only star on the team,
and our job is to win the gold for him. So teammate, let your light
shine on the team and before people that others may see our good deeds
and teamwork and praise our God in heaven (Matthew 5:16, w/
commentary). Let’s go for the gold!

PRAYER

Lord we surrender our egos to you, and we are willing to join your
team of disciples. We want to live so you will get the glory (Matthew
5:16).

We confess that there were times when we wanted to make a name for
ourselves. We were building a monument unto ourselves (Genesis 11).
Lord we claimed that we were doing it for you, but we wanted to
shine.

Forgive us for our hidden agendas and secret desires.

Now Lord we humble ourselves to you only to be exalted in your time
(James 4).Lord it is our hearts’ desire to walk with you and others.
We no longer want to be the greatest. We just want to live for you and
hear you say servants of God well done.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Copyright 2008. Turning the World Upside Down Covenant Fellowship,
Inc. - The Teaching & Preaching Ministry of T. Anthony Bronner. All
Rights Reserved.