Champ

This morning I had a vision about Evander Holyfield, a former boxer who beat Mike Tyson, another boxer who was one of the best in his era. Most boxers was afraid when fighting Tyson. I watched the highlights when both of them fought. I remember Holyfield was the underdog, he had heart problems before the fight and was beaten a couple of times, he was not supposed to win the fight against Tyson. However, Holyfield praised God before and after the fight. Despite all predictions, Holyfield won the fight in the 11th round. At the end of the match, a reporter asked him how he won. His response was that God gave him the strength. He said he was only following the Holy Spirit. The reporter wanted to hear more about boxing tactics and strategies, but Holyfield kept answering these “spiritual” answers which seemed to frustrate the reporter.

The writing on Holyfield's boxing coat was Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength”. This is the lesson that God wants me to learn (or the fact that God wants me to see). God has led me in my PhD, fatherhood, and all busyness like He led Holyfield in a miraculous boxing match. I was knocked out many times in all aspects, I was underestimated, but God has kept telling me not to quit and to keep fighting. He is like a trainer who motivates me. More than that, He is a voice in me which strengthens me whenever I feel like quitting. My first year was a disaster, I did not do well and I had to change my PhD topic. Everything seemed to progress slowly afterwards, but God helped me. He instructed me to choose a specific topic and that topic has led to an academic journal publication acceptance and will result in more journal publications. God helps me financially too so I can be a blessing to others. I used to work as a cleaner in a bar with minimum salary to help with my family's living costs, but he promoted me in His amazing and unthinkable way.

My future has many challenges but I know God is with me. He was, is and will always be my strength. Like Holyfield, I just want to praise God before the fight ends, and I am going to praise Him until and after it ends. One thing I learned so far is, I know that I am weak, but I also know that God is strong and He is in me. Most people underestimated Holyfield because they saw his weaknesses and Tyson’s strengths, what they failed to see was that God Almighty was fighting with the champ.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."