Morning Musing: What’s the Difference Between Competition and Commitment?

Good morning, my friends! Today I have a question for you because I’ve had this question roaming around inside of me for a while. This morning, I finally addressed it. What’s the difference between competition and commitment? Which one are you pursuing?

True Story Ahead

Just going to be a little vulnerable today.

Lately I’ve felt like I’m in a competition. While I understand some people like competition, I’m not personally one of those people who strives to win. I strive for a lot of things in life, but winning is not one of them. Of course, that doesn’t mean I like losing. (Remember that kids when we’re playing games. I will play for fun and if that means I have to be a fierce competitor, I will. After all, there may be a prize I’m striving for, like chocolate.)

I measure my progress by how much I’m influencing others, not by winning. When others tell me I’ve inspired them or encouraged them. Well, that makes me feel great! I know I’m living out what I’m called to live out.

As I mentioned, I’ve been called to write a book(s). This journey has been challenging. The world tells me I need to do a lot of social media to get noticed. Guess what? It’s feeling like a competition to me. And all the social media and technology updates use up one of the most important resources there is: my time.

This coming weekend I’ll be attending a writer’s conference. I was hoping in the last 12 months to have written my book. Guess what? I haven’t written one word of it.

Frustration to my core. Disappointment too.

Psalm 37 is one of those chapters that’s been instrumental in my life for at least a dozen years. So this morning, I opened my Bible to Psalm 37 and began reading.

Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord.”

Immediately, I thought, “God doesn’t say, ‘Compete your way to the Lord,’ He says, ‘Commit your way.” So why then do I feel like I’m competing in my calling?”

I look at the picture above and I feel like the white chess players. Facing the flames of competition. But am I really facing competition or am I facing my commitment?

God helped me refocus. I’m to commit, that is, pledge my way to Him. I’m to entrust my calling, my path, my life, my journey to Him. That includes writing.

Our enemy loves distracting us especially with the world’s way of doing things rather than what God tells us to do. God has instructed me is to commit not compete. No wonder I’ve been frustrated. I hate competing. It’s draining to me. I don’t care if I win. I’ll let someone else win. If writing is a competition, I’m not willing to do that. But if writing is a commitment to the Lord to influence and encourage others, I’m all in. I’ll face the flames for that for sure!

So, I’m pondering some changes…again. I’m still tweaking what works and what doesn’t work for me. Because I hate excuses from myself and others in regards to why we don’t do things or change etc., I have to check my own intentions and get back on track.

So, this may mean less in some things so that I can write more. I’ll keep you posted. I’m just not exactly sure at this moment what committing my way to the Lord will look like in regards to writing for the rest of 2018.

I’d love to hear from you. Is there something in your life where it feels like a competition and it’s draining you? Are you committed to something and working on it or are you distracted from your commitment? Are you confused, like me,  if you’re facing the flames of competition when really you’re facing the flames of your commitment?

Just wondering if I’m the only one who feels this way too. Please, let’s start a conversation in my comment section. I’d truly love to hear from you!