Imagine your team wins the championship. A Trophy, a pizza party, the whole thing! Now here’s a question: Does that mean you never have to go to practice again? Nope! Next season, you still show up. You still work hard. You still listen to your coach. You won, but you keep playing.

That’s kind of how the Bible describes following Jesus. Look closely at 1 John 5:4-5. It says two things. First, faith “has overcome” the world. That already happened, like winning the championship. When you put your trust in Jesus, you became part of His winning team forever!

Second, it says everyone born of God “overcomes” the world. That’s something that keeps happening every day. You keep choosing to trust Jesus and do what He says. That’s showing up for practice.

The Bible connects faith to obeying God (1 John 5:3). Believing in Jesus isn’t just something you think in your head. It shows up in what you do. When you obey your parents, tell the truth, and treat people with kindness, you’re living like the winner Jesus made you to be. So if you’re having a hard time saying no to something wrong, here’s a good question to ask: “Is there something God has asked me to do that I haven’t been doing?”

Take Action: Think of one thing a parent or teacher has asked you to do that you’ve been putting off or doing halfway. Maybe it’s cleaning your room, finishing a reading log, or feeding the dog without being reminded. Do it today, all the way, the first time you’re asked. That’s one way to show up to practice!