A successful season is different for each team. Some will judge the season a failure if they don’t end up with the championship. Some are looking just to improve over last year’s performance. Some are looking for seat time and finishing the race in one piece is judged a success. Whatever our standard, having success is different for each one of us. 

Being judged successful however is a different thing altogether. You know there are two different ways of looking at things, our way and God’s way. When we judge success in earthly terms we focus on accomplishments and status. We look at awards and recognition. When we look at success from a Biblical viewpoint we focus on those who have chosen to serve God and choose to follow His will for their lives. That leads to victory.

Will we be successful? That depends. Many thought Jesus was a failure as he hung on the cross. They challenged Him to save Himself. They hurled insults at Him and questioned His claim to be the Son of God. In the end Jesus accomplished what He came to do, He gave His life so that we might have life. We have victory in Jesus!

In this passage of Scripture from the Gospel of Luke we can find some help in our quest to be successful. 

Luke 5:1-11; One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. 

Luke tells us of the calling of the first disciples. We read about a fisherman, Simon Peter. He had just finished a night of fishing and was cleaning up his nets. Along came this man, Jesus, interrupted him and used his boat as a pulpit. 

Think of it like the end of a race, you had a rough one, a DNF. You and your crew are cleaning up and along comes this guy who wants to use your hauler as a pulpit. After he is done speaking he starts to tell you how to set up your car and how to win the next race. You look at him as if to say, “What do you know about racing?” He says trust me and do what I tell you. Reluctantly you agree. You set the car up and sure enough you run the fastest you have ever run. Maybe there is something to this guy? Maybe we should listen to him?

There are a few lessons we can learn about victory; first we have to let Jesus in. Whether it’s our boat, our hauler or our life, victory cannot happen without Jesus being a part of it. 

The next step is learning to let Jesus have control. Once he is a part of our life we have to let him have control. He will guide and direct us to what is right and just. Jesus has more information than we do. In all our wisdom and experience, Christ is still greater.

What happens next will amaze us. Jesus will show us things we couldn’t even conceive in our wildest dreams. His plan will show us what life is all about. He will guide us to places we would not go on our own. Being obedient will lead us down the path to victory.

Getting back to fishing; the best time to fish was at night and in shallow water. Jesus instructed Simon Peter to put out to deep water in the middle of the day. Peter, like us, questioned if Jesus knew what he was talking about. Jesus did and proved it with a large catch of fish.

After seeing this the passage says Peter left his nets and boats and followed Jesus. That must have been one awesome catch of fish to impress a fisherman so much that he determined his life would be better if he followed Jesus instead of remaining a fisherman.

I find it amazing that Peter walked away from everything he had accomplished, everything he had built, his entire business and followed Jesus. What would it take for us to leave everything at the track and follow Jesus? 

That is something hard for us to understand, can you even imagine what it would take for you to just leave everything and follow Jesus? That’s exactly what Peter did. Peter came to the conclusion that with Jesus Victory was the only option. 

As we start down that road, following Christ, our faith grows and confirms that placing our trust in Him wasn’t a mistake. Christ will not fail us. He will do greater things through us than we can do without him. He will amaze us.

The decision is ours to make, accept a new direction in life, follow Jesus with all we have. He has proved to be worthy of our faith and trust. He is capable of making our lives more than they would be without him.

If being victorious is more important to us than having success we need to follow Jesus. We need to follow someone’s direction, someone’s example. Who we follow determines if we will taste victory.

Philippians 4:13; I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 

Luke 1:37; For nothing is impossible with God. 

When all is said and done by whose standard will we be judged, the standard of the world or the Biblical standard? With Jesus we cannot fail and nothing is too big to overcome. I encourage you to let Jesus into your life, give him control, follow him with everything you have. He is the only way to taste victory.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

A successful season is different for each team. Some will judge the season a failure if they don’t end up with the championship. Some are looking just to improve over last year’s performance. Some are looking for seat time and for some finishing the race in one piece is judged successful. There is the difference, we define being successful while others define success. Whatever our standard, having a successful season is different for each one of us.

Being judged a success however is a different thing altogether. You know there are two different ways of looking at things, our way and God’s way. When we judge success in earthly terms we focus on accomplishments and status. We look at awards and recognition. When we look at success from a Biblical viewpoint, we focus on whether we have submitted ourselves to God and have done His will.

Will we have success? That depends on the standard you use. Many thought Jesus a failure as he hung on the cross. They challenged Him to save Himself. They hurled insults at Him and questioned His claim to be the Son of God. In the end Jesus was successful, He accomplished what He came to do, He gave His life so that we might have life.

Luke 5:1-11, One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. 

Luke tells us about the calling of the first disciples. We read about the first encounter of Simon Peter with Jesus. Peter had just finished a night of fishing; he caught nothing and was cleaning up his nets. Along comes this guy who wants to use his boat for a pulpit. He did not have much success the night before and he’d rather just clean up and go home. Then this guy tries to tell you how to fish. Who is this guy?

Think of it like the end of a bad day at the track. You had trouble and didn’t finish, not a successful trip. You and your crew are cleaning up and along comes this guy who wants to use your hauler as a pulpit. After he is done speaking, he starts to tell you how to set up your car and how to win the next race. You look at him as if to say, “What do you know about racing?” He says trust me and do what I tell you. Reluctantly you agree. You set the car up and sure enough you run the fastest you have ever run. Maybe there is something to this guy? Maybe I should follow him?

Let’s examine what has taken place. First, we have to let Jesus in. Whether it’s our boat, our hauler or our life, we cannot be successful without Jesus being a part of it. If we refuse to let Jesus in, we sealed our fate from the start.

Once Jesus is a part of our life, we have to follow His commands, do what He leads us to do. It is not much good to have Christ in our life if we don’t listen to him? He will guide and direct us to what is right and just. He will guide us to places we would not go on our own. We need to listen and follow.

Let’s take a look at Peter’s dilemma. The best time to fish was at night and in shallow water, but contrary to this, Jesus instructed Simon Peter to put out into deeper water in the middle of the day. Peter, like us, questioned if Jesus knew what he was talking about, but Peter followed. Jesus provided a large catch of fish, greater than Peter had ever scene

Here are our first set if directions on the road to being successful;

1)      The first step to being successful is including Jesus. He must be a part of our life.

2)      Then we need to allow Jesus control of the direction and decisions in our life.

3)      The result; Jesus will guide us to people, places and things that we wouldn’t have      considered and provide abundant blessings.

I find it amazing that Peter walked away from everything he had accomplished, everything he had built, his entire business and followed Jesus. What would it take for us to leave everything at the track and follow Jesus? It is hard to imagine what it would take, to just leave everything and follow Jesus? That’s exactly what Peter did.

Peter and his associates had been out fishing all night. They caught nothing. They went back out during the day and caught so many fish their boats were sinking. They had never seen so many fish. Can you hear the questions that were running through their minds, “Who is this man that knows where all these fish were?” Peter came to the realization that with Jesus failure was not an option. Peter decided he was worth following and his associates, James and John, followed along.

Here are some additional steps on our road to being successful;

4)      Realize failure is not an option when we follow Jesus, He will not fail.

5)      Expect Jesus to do great things. He will amaze us with His blessings.

6)      Accept our new direction in life. Follow Jesus with all you have.

If being successful is more important to us than being judged a success then we need to follow Jesus. These steps that guide us only serve as reminders that we do not have control over what happens in life. We need to follow someone’s direction, someone’s example. Who we follow determines if we will be successful.

When all is said and done by whose standard will we be judged; will we be judged a success by the world or will we be successful according to Jesus. I encourage you to let Jesus into your life, give him control, follow him with everything you have. You will be successful.

Philippians 4:13; I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Luke 1:37; For nothing is impossible with God.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

To be crowned a champion means that you have what it takes to persevere through the long racing season. On the Whelen Modified Tour, Justin Bonsignore picked up the third Whelen Modified Tour Championship. Ken Massa, who has fielded the #51 for Justin since 2009, enjoys his third Whelen Modified Tour Championship as owner.

Sammy Smith, sharing time in the #18 with Ty Gibbs, and the team at Joe Gibbs Racing won the ARCA East Championship with a sweep. The driver didn’t matter; the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing entry won every race on the schedule. They have proved over and over they have what it takes to run the race in such a way as to win.

These drivers and teams have shown us that they know how to run the race. They take the proper steps to prepare for the race. They compete with a focus on the prize, victory. They run the race in such a way as to win. Does that mean everyone else doesn’t? 

Each team has the desire to win, they want to win, but what separates the ones that win from those who don’t? Many things factor into winning the race, equipment, experience, preparedness, focus, etc. Only those who make the commitment to winning can claim the prize. It is a rare occurrence that an ill prepared team wins. Their lack of preparedness usually shows up when the race is run.

I know there are some discrepancies in the amount of resources available to the teams. But the field being level what separates the winners from the losers? This is the question everyone wants to answer. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 

The key to winning the race comes in the preparation. Winning the race means preparing properly. Disciplining ourselves to be prepared for the race is the key to winning. If we do not go into strict training, we cannot hope to win the prize.

I have seen the cars of the champions and how they look when they arrive at the track and are rolled out of the hauler. They are prepared to race. As Paul says they do not run aimlessly but they are focused on the prize. They have a focus that transcends the distractions.

I remember a conversation I had once with a crew chief after a race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NHMS. He shared that they were close to finding the right combination to be able to win. He said there are so many combinations, finding the right one would take some work. He shared that they would not stop trying to find the right combination. The next time out at NHMS they found that combination and won the race. 

They won because they focused on working hard to find the right setup. They didn’t get distracted or spend their time on things that were not profitable. Their goal was to win the race and that was what they did.

We can apply that to our lives and our walk with God. What Paul is saying here is; to run the race God has set out for us we need to go into training. We need to learn how God wants us to think and behave. That only comes from practice. We have to be in God’s Word, we have to be in conversation with Him. We have to know and understand the ways of God and we must be able to figure out what is of God and what is not. 

Think about why we have practice before the race, we have to test things and make sure we have the right setup for the conditions of race day. We need to make sure we know what works and what doesn’t. Each day has its own conditions. The same is true in each of our lives; we need to make sure we are prepared for each day, prepared for the challenges that will come. We need to read God’s word, talk with him and turn to Him for guidance and direction.

Romans 12:2; Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

A transformation process needs to take place. Our life needs to be changed. We need to train and practice. That means studying God’s word, the Bible. That means living God’s way.  To run the race in such a way as to win means committing our life to God, committing to know Him, His Word and living in a way that will honor Him. Then we qualify for the prize and discover the blessings of God.

How are we doing? Are we ready to go into training for the prize that will not fade or tarnish? If not, I encourage you to start today. We will only see the blessings God has for us when we run the race in such a way as to win. Let’s commit to one another to do that. Let’s commit to hold each other accountable to that decision. Let’s train together to be qualified for the prize. As Paul wrote to Timothy as his race came to an end;

2Timothy 4:6-8; For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Let us fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith. Let us strive to qualify for the championship, a crown of righteousness.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

Success in a race season is different for each team. Some will judge the season a failure if they don’t end up with the championship. Some are looking just to improve over last year’s performance. Some are looking for seat time and finishing the race in one piece is judged a success. Whatever our standard, having success is different for each one of us. 

Being judged successful however is a different thing altogether. We know there are two different ways of looking at things, our way and God’s way. When we judge being successful in earthly terms we focus on accomplishments and status. We look at awards and recognition. When we look at being successful from a Biblical viewpoint, we look at character, we focus on those who have submitted themselves to God and have chosen to do His will.

Will you be successful? That depends on the standard you use. Many thought Jesus a failure as he hung on the cross. They challenged Him to save Himself. They hurled insults at Him and questioned His claim to be the Son of God. In the end Jesus accomplished what He came to do, He followed His Father’s will. He gave His life so that we might have life. 

Being successful isn’t about what we attain; it is more about how we do what we do, character. In a passage of Scripture from the Gospel of Luke we can find some help in our quest to be successful. 

Luke 5:1-11; One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. 

In this passage Luke tells us of the calling of the first disciples. We read about Simon Peter and his friends. He had just finished a night of fishing with no success and he was cleaning up his nets. Think of it like the end of a race. You had trouble and didn’t finish, a DNF. You and your crew are cleaning up and along comes this guy who wants to use your hauler as a pulpit. After he is done speaking, he starts to tell you how to set up your car and how to win the next race. He challenges you to make the adjustments and go run a lap. You look at him as if to say, “What do you know about racing?” He says trust me and do what I tell you. Reluctantly you agree. You set the car up and sure enough you run the fastest lap you have ever run. Maybe there is something to this guy? Maybe I should follow him?

Let’s examine what has taken place. First, we have to let Jesus in. Whether it’s our boat, our hauler or our life, we cannot be successful without Jesus being a part of it. Once he is a part of our life, we have to let him have control. He will guide and direct us to what is right and just. He will guide us to places we would not go on our own. 

Peter was a fisherman and he knew the best time to fish was at night and in shallow water. Jesus instructed Simon Peter to put out to deep water in the middle of the day. Peter, like us, questioned if Jesus knew what he was talking about. Jesus did and proved it with a large catch of fish.

The first step to being successful is including Jesus. He must be a part of our life. Second, we must allow Jesus to have control of the direction and decisions in our life. Third, we must expect Jesus to guide us to people, places and things that we wouldn’t have met, gone or done if we didn’t follow Him. Fishing in deep water in the middle of the day.

Remember being successful has more to do with character and less to do with performance. Peter had a choice; he could have remained a fisherman or he could become a fisher of men. To show Peter the He knew the way, Jesus demonstrated His ability to catch fish. After seeing this demonstration, Peter left his nets and boats and followed Jesus. That must have been one awesome catch of fish to impress a fisherman so much. Can you imagine what it would take for us to leave everything behind and follow Christ? 

I find it amazing that Peter walked away from everything he had accomplished, everything he had built, his entire business and followed Jesus. What would it take for us to leave everything at the track and follow Jesus? Can we even imagine? To just leave everything and follow Jesus? That’s exactly what Peter did. Peter came to the realization that with Jesus failure was not an option. 

Peter and the other fishermen had been out fishing all night. They caught nothing. They went back out during the day and caught so many fish their boats were sinking. They had never seen so many fish. You can imagine the questions that ran through their minds, “Who is this man that knows where all these fish were?” Then Peter decided he was worth following and his partners, James and John, followed along.

In addition to the steps we discussed previously, let’s add these; first we must realize failure is not an option when we follow Jesus, He will not fail. We need to have an expectation that Jesus can do great things. He will amaze us with His blessings. We must accept our new direction in life and follow Jesus with all we have.

If being successful is more important to us than having success than we need to follow Jesus. These steps that guide us only serve as reminders that we do not have control over what happens in life. We need to follow someone’s direction, someone’s example. Who we follow determines if we will be successful. 

Phil 4:13; I can do everything through him (Christ) who gives me strength. 

Luke 1:37; For nothing is impossible with God. 

When all is said and done by whose standard will we be judged, the standard of the world or the Biblical standard? With Jesus you cannot fail and nothing is too big to overcome. I encourage you to let Jesus into your life, give him control; follow him with everything you have. You cannot and will not fail. 

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.