Stay In Your Lane

 When you're driving down the road in your car, it's important to stay in your lane. When you're running in a track race, it's important to stay in your lane. If the car doesn't stay in its own lane, there is a higher chance of a collision happening and someone getting hurt. If someone doesn't stay in their lane while running track, they could be disqualified, which means they can't finish the race. In life, we each have our own lane. We each  have been given a unique set of skills, gifts and talents that only we can use. In Romans 12:6, it tell us, "According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts." No one's gift is less than anyone else's. No one's gift is better than anyone else's. All are needed. Take time to find out what your gifts are. There's a song that says, " I need you. You need me. We're all a part of God's body. " Just like every body part is needed in our human body (and it tells you quickly when something's not right!), so it is in God's family. Now, staying in our lane doesn't mean we don't need anyone else. In fact, we do! We absolutely need each other. We need to celebrate, support and encourage each other (I Thessalonians 5:11). We should be cheering each other on and not waiting and wanting for someone to fall. Staying in our lane simply means we realize we have a part to play and we're needed. We need to do our best to be obedient to God and do the best we can in whatever task we do (John 14:15, Colossians 3:23). When we do our best to focus on what we need to do while encouraging others to do the same, we lower the chance of competition and comparison occurring. Competition and comparison happens when we focus on the wrong things. The second we take our eyes off our lane, we open the door for distraction (Ephesians 4:27). If we're not careful, we could possibly drift off to another lane or somewhere we're not even supposed to be. There are people affected by our actions whether we realize it or not. Let's make sure that we start or continue to do what we're supposed to do. On the road to our destination, we should all have the goal to please God. Be thankful for what God has given you. You matter. Remember that everyone else matters too. Teamwork is important. We can still stay in our lane while cheering others on. So keep moving, merge when needed and most of all, stay in your lane!