Placement, Not Performance

It’s not about performance. It’s about placement.

This phrase has been circulating in Aglow through the teachings of Jane and Graham Cooke. It is a phrase that has held fresh in my mind the last few months. As we gathered around the television to watch the Summer Olympics most athletes expressed their only goal…to win an Olympic gold. Watching an interview of Ryan Hall, US Olympic marathon runner, I saw an athlete with a different perspective.

It’s not about performance. It’s about placement.

This phrase has been circulating in Aglow through the teachings of Jane and Graham Cooke. It is a phrase that has held fresh in my mind the last few months. As we gathered around the television to watch the Summer Olympics most athletes expressed their only goal…to win an Olympic gold. Watching an interview of Ryan Hall, US Olympic marathon runner, I saw an athlete with a different perspective.

Though Ryan Hall was training to run for a gold medal in the London 2012 Olympics, he said in all things Jesus was his prize. God offers an amazing life to everyone and that is way better than winning a gold medal. Ryan states that it doesn’t matter where he places in the race because he couldn’t do anything to make God more proud of him. This belief freed him to not be afraid to fail and take risks. He spoke of performing out of who you are, not out of what you’re going for. Watch his full interview here:

We have been placed in Christ and He is in us. We cannot perform for God’s love. He gives us his love freely and has called us His own. 

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.  John 1:12 (ESV)

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:15-16

Study the word and let your mind be transformed as you grow in understanding who you are in Christ. The freedom found in walking as God’s sons and daughters will shape our destiny. We can walk free from fear and take risks using the talents and gifts God has placed in us. Walking as ones placed in the family of God and all the promises therein, we cannot fail.