Atlanta gave us spectacular sports achievements these last several weeks. But you never saw many of them. I’m speaking of the para-olympics. Occurring in Atlanta on the heels of the Olympic Games, the para-olympics have occurred in relative obscurity. The achievements of these athletes, however, are no less spectacular. World records have been set, best times recorded, painful injuries endured, and successful achievements won.

          These athletes are sometimes described as handicapped, or some politically correct version of the same term. Their accomplishments, however, remind us of the undaunting courage of the human spirit. They trained as hard and long as the athletes who made prime time a few weeks earlier. They participated for less monetary reward and notoriety. They pushed the limits of their capabilities and succeeded, when most live far short of their talents. They are markers for a culture obsessed with fame. They remind us that success is found in the struggle for character and excellence, not in the fleeting moments of notoriety.

          How do we quantify success? Is it a world record time? Is it a personal best in an event? Did we achieve all we could achieve? Did we challenge the limits of our own capabilities? Competition is not bad if the goal is for us to be our best. Glory is in the effort, dedication, and striving. That is where character is refined and success is achieved. But ultimately success is not measured against others so much as it is against ourselves and our God-given potential.

          Yet success has to be something more than achieving our maximum potential. John Maxwell has defined success as  “KNOWING my purpose in life, GROWING to my maximum potential, and SOWING seeds that benefit others.” Being our best is more than personal achievement. Success is knowing God has a plan and has called me to fit into His plan. Success is the character forged on the journey to grow into God’s person, the person He made me to be. Success is blessing others in ways He would bless them—to give something back and not just take from others.

          Using this definition, most of the greatest successes in life are people the headlines will never trumpet. But we know them! Like the para-athaletes in Atlanta this past week, they are the best they can be. They bless others through their character, kindness, and faithfulness. They serve as examples because they do it for the thrill of the journey to be their best. Let’s not let their examples be wasted. Let’s be our best, too!

          To spur you on to true success, I want to encourage you to do two things:

1. Write one of your true life personal heroes a note of thanks and tell them how they’ve blessed our life. This is not some media figure you admire, but someone you’ve personally known. They may even be someone no one else recognizes as a hero, but in your mind, they live up to the true definition of success: they’ve known their purpose for being here, they’ve lived up to that purpose, and they’ve blessed others along the way.
2. I want to encourage you to use the following guide as you begin a weekly training regimen to be the best you can be for God.
   • Each Sunday, the first day of the week, commit to being your best for God’s glory:

      “O Lord God, maker of the magnificent and wondrous universe, I thank you for making me and knowing me, even when I was in my mothers womb. I commit today, and this week, to live for your glory. I will be my best to Your honor and glory. Trusting in the power of Your Spirit, I will honor You. Amen.”

   • Write down in one short sentence what you believe your role is in God’s work for this coming week.
   • Write down one barrier/sin you want to overcome, or write down one positive or kind deed you want to do, which will help you be more the person God made you to be.
   • Write down the name of one specific person you will pray for each day and you will seek to do a kind deed to/with during the coming week.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, by His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory … forever and ever! Amen.” — Ephesians 3:20-21