Nancy Leigh DeMoss: In the 1924 Paris Olympics, a twenty-two-year-old Scottish athlete said “no” to self and “yes” to God. Eric Liddell dropped out of his best event—the 100-yard dash—because the qualifying heats were held on a Sunday.

He entered the 400-yard dash. Even though he hadn’t trained for it, he won the gold medal. A lot of people know that story but don’t realize that Eric Liddell kept saying “no” to self and “yes” to God.

After the Olympics, Eric served in China as a missionary. In 1943 he was interned in a Japanese concentration camp but continued to serve God and joyfully minister to other prisoners. While still in the camp, Eric suffered a brain tumor that left him partially paralyzed.

As he lay dying, his final words to his nurse were, “Annie, it’s complete surrender.” Liddell’s life is a powerful call to say “no” to self and “yes” to God.

With Seeking Him, I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss.