Devotional
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May 12, 2014
Set:
It’s all about power these days. We have Power Bars, Powerade®, Power Play, Power Training and Power Ratings. The world of sports is addicted to power. Bigger, faster and stronger is the ticket.
Strength training for any athlete is essential—you need to be an athlete of power. We know what an athlete of power looks like physically, but do we know what an athlete of power looks like spiritually? God wants us to be an athlete or coach of spiritual P.O.W.E.R. This is not power that the world offers, but the kind of power that only comes from God. What kind of athlete do you want to be? It’s time to P.O.W.E.R. up.
P - Pursue Purity
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May 11, 2014
Set:
One of my favorite things about John Wooden’s coaching was that he taught his players each year to put on their socks and tie their shoes properly. You’d think college-age athletes could already do this, but Wooden took nothing for granted. He paid attention to the little things which made the big things come easier for his teams over the years.
Of course, Coach Wooden wanted to teach his players a lesson: if they were going to play in his program, they had to put aside what they wanted to do and follow his plans for the team. That discipline in the small things gave his teams great results, winning ten national championships and setting an example for us of the fact that little things make the biggest difference.
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May 09, 2014
Set:
Jealousy can destroy a team. A lot of it comes from outside people saying, “You can do this and you can do that” or “the only reason you can’t do it is because that other player is getting two more shots than you are.”
It’s funny when you think about it, but that happens and then you start buying into it, and you start saying, “Yeah, I should be playing more.” But whatever God has for you, you will have. Nobody else can take that away. If you’re not getting the playing time you should get or the recognition you should get, work harder. Work harder. Don’t sit there and blame somebody else for what they’re doing.
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May 08, 2014
Set:
Every time I turn around, I’m hit with another statistic—another number, another measurement. My friends who are math majors cling to this principle, and for them it makes the world go ’round. But for me, it just facilitates an overwhelming feeling of unworthiness. I can’t go a day without being measured by my GPA, my batting average, my fielding percentage, my time around the bases, height, weight…See where I’m going?
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May 07, 2014
Set:
Sweaty palms, a racing heart and butterflies in the stomach were my Friday night enemies. The opening drive always made me nervous. I wanted our team to make a statement on the opening drive—to march straight down the field and score. But, at times the fear seemed almost paralyzing.
In those moments, my high school head coach would always remind us to “turn it loose and play.” I found great encouragement in that statement to let go of my fear and nervousness and just play the game.
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May 06, 2014
Set:
In this account from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is awakened by His disciples when a storm seems to be threatening their lives. In the middle of what they considered a frightening situation, Jesus asks them, “Where is your faith?”
Once at a summer camp, I observed three kids struggling to maneuver a canoe in a small pond. As the camp counselor sat on the shoreline and yelled directions to them, the children became confused and scared. From what I could tell, their feelings were probably brought on by the fact that they were not listening to the counselor or that they were just making wrong decisions. Nonetheless, they didn’t understand how to properly paddle and they lacked the faith that they would be safe.
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May 05, 2014
Set:
Are you willing to pay the price and ask others tough questions? Being on staff with FCA, I have the opportunity to spend time with amazing ministry, sports and business leaders from around the world. My goal is to be a sponge around them and ask as many questions as possible. Asking the tough questions produces powerful insights, but most people try to impress others by talking the entire time. Very few athletes and coaches maximize the opportunity to do what life-learners always do: Ask Questions. Shut Up. Listen. Take Notes.
“A prudent question is one half of wisdom.”
- Francis Bacon
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May 04, 2014
Set:
Think of a team that fires on all cylinders. Good performance and unity are inseparable. All teams work collectively and corporately. There is no “I” in team, but there is an “I” in win. Joshua knew from past failures how to motivate his army. A unified team develops commitment to a common purpose, momentum, and loyalty. The more united the team, the better they play. The better the team plays, the more the individuals feel a sense of accomplishment. Individuals are extensions of the team.
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May 03, 2014
Set:
Weight lifters often use spotters to help them stay safe during workouts and get maximum results. In your own experience, have you ever done a bench press workout without a spotter? I have. And when I tried it, my workout was lack luster. I couldn’t work out as intensely as I could have if I’d known I had someone there.
When I bench press, I’m so much more effective when I have a spotter to encourage me and offer help if I need it. When I get tired, my spotter speaks encouraging words or helps me lift, and he provides just enough help so that I can finish that last rep or two. He really helps me have a great workout instead of just a good workout.
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May 02, 2014
Set:
How often have we watched a football game in which one team is leading by six points with a few minutes left, and they decide to go into a “prevent defense”—allowing the other team to march down the field, throw short passes, and score a touchdown in the closing seconds? Or a basketball game in which they double-team the post player who has been scoring all the points, only to have that little point guard who hasn’t made anything all year, hit consecutive three-point shots and win the game? I call those unintended consequences or unexpected results.
