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Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of AIA

Greater is He Within Me - Michelle Carter

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I never experienced life without Christ. At an early age I knew and believed what my parents taught me. I remember at age eight I could not even imagine God was not real. I remember times as a child when I would be in my bed praying about a problem. I always knew that whatever was going on, I could pray and God would take care of it.

Life was pretty easy for me. The real test came when I went away to college — away from my structured life. I was faced with all the things that were going on around me that I was not accustomed to facing on my own. Enjoying my newfound freedom, I put my relationship with Christ on the backburner. That’s when I realized how hard life is when you are not close to Him. I knew that if I continued to stray away from Christ and not do what He wanted me to do. I wasn’t going to win in life. The older I get the more I realize the things that I was taught at an early age apply to my life now.

Last year was a hard year for me in my sport. I almost wanted to quit, and I started thinking about the pros and cons of continuing to throw. I was by far one of the weakest throwers, but I threw further than most. Then I realized there has to be a reason why I was doing what I was doing with little effort. This has to be one of my gifts — a God-given talent.

I understand now that Christ wants to work through me so that others can get to know Him. If I wanted more people to get to know Christ, I had to work hard to exemplify His presence in my life. I started thinking about how this is not about me, it’s about Him; and by letting Him work through me I will be blessed and be a blessing.

I continue to pray constantly to make it day by day because it’s easy to get discouraged. The Bible says that greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). That’s how I know that no matter what comes my way, He is greater. Not me, but He that is in me. I have Christ in my heart so I already have the victory. Through Christ all things are possible.

—Michelle Carter, USA Olympic Shot Putter

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of AIA

Greater is He Within Me - Michelle Carter

Jan 22, 2020

I never experienced life without Christ. At an early age I knew and believed what my parents taught me. I remember at age eight I could not even imagine God was not real. I remember times as a child when I would be in my bed praying about a problem. I always knew that whatever was going on, I could pray and God would take care of it. Life was pretty easy for me. The real test came when I went away to college — away from my structured life. I was faced with all the things that were going on around me that I was not accustomed to facing on my own. Enjoying my newfound freedom, I put my relationship with Christ on the backburner. That’s when I realized how hard life is when you are not close to Him. I knew that if I continued to stray away from Christ and not do what He wanted me to do. I wasn’t going to win in life. The older I get the more I realize the things that I was taught at an early age apply to my life now. Last year was a hard year for me in my sport. I almost wanted to quit, and I started thinking about the pros and cons of continuing to throw. I was by far one of the weakest throwers, but I threw further than most. Then I realized there has to be a reason why I was doing what I was doing with little effort. This has to be one of my gifts — a God-given talent. I understand now that Christ wants to work through me so that others can get to know Him. If I wanted more people to get to know Christ, I had to work hard to exemplify His presence in my life. I started thinking about how this is not about me, it’s about Him; and by letting Him work through me I will be blessed and be a blessing. I continue to pray constantly to make it day by day because it’s easy to get discouraged. The Bible says that greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). That’s how I know that no matter what comes my way, He is greater. Not me, but He that is in me. I have Christ in my heart so I already have the victory. Through Christ all things are possible. —Michelle Carter, USA Olympic Shot Putter