Manchester United has once again done it, adding a 17th Championship title to their cabinet of trophies by finishing the Barclay's Premier League 2007/08 season with a virtuso display of hunger and team spirit. This team begun the league slowly but leap-frogged over Arsenal to lead the table in the later stage of the season's second-half, and eventually pipped Chelsea to secure the championship in dramatic fashion!

Playing to win the title

But what if the script didn't turn out this way, and if Chelsea had snatched the championship under the nose of the Red Devils? That would have meant all their hard work and goals scored throughout the season of nine months would amount to nothing.

The one and only objective of being in the league is to win the race for the championship title. Without aiming and clinching the title, being in the league would be meaningless.

A winning mentality and attitude

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. 1 Corinthians 9:24

Similarly, we as Christians are all in a race of our faith and the goal is to accomplished our purpose and calling as His servants. At the end of this league or to be exact, at the end of our lives on earth, would we reach our goal? Would we emerge as winners or losers?

As apostle Paul beseeches, we need to live out our faith in such as way that we aim to win. And that can never be achieved with a passive or mediocre mentality and attitude.

Winning with excellence

What distinguishes winners from losers is the hunger and spirit of excellence in achieving the goal or prize. A spirit of excellence is created and thrusted by our hunger fueled by our love for God and the passion for the lost that needs to be touched by His love.

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. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Even if we think we are doing well, that would pose a challenge to be continually motivated. Because it is easy to allow the "Rabbit and tortoise syndrome" to creep in when we think that we're ahead of the rest.

Live excellently and be excellent

Despite winning almost all that is to win in the football world, Manchester United has never cease to evolve, improve and excel in all departments. Their hunger and avoidance of complacency has seen them striving to outdo not only their opponents, but also their own self.
Likewise, with continually spiritual hunger for God and to do His will, we can also expect to see the Mighty Hand of God in our lives using us powerfully beyond our imagination. When we are truly living out God's purpose for our lives, that's when we are excelling in every area of our lives.

And just as it is fair to say that no one wants to support or be associated with a team that always loses and has no spirit to excel, we cannot expect to win people towards Christ if we do not lead victorious, successful and excellent lives in Christ for the world to see. Therefore, we need to live excellently and be excellent in Him with the supernatural resources we have in His promises and the power of the Holy Spirit, for Him.

There are many reasons why people fast. In the Old Testament we find Daniel fasting and praying to confess the sin and ask for God's forgiveness over Israel (Daniel 9). David prayed and fasted for his sick enemies (Psalm 35:13). Meanwhile, King Ahab humbled himself before God so calamity may pass over him (1 Kings 21:25-29).