Devotional
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July 10, 2013
Set:
Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden once said, “A leader’s most powerful ally is his or her own example. There is hypocrisy to the phrase ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’ I refused to make demands on my boys that I wasn’t willing to live out in my own life.”
Too often as athletes and coaches, we desire to live a life we know we cannot live. What I mean is that we desire for our external life (the life everyone sees—wins and accomplishments) to be greater than our internal life (our thoughts and desires).
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July 09, 2013
Set:
As the Competitor’s Creed states, your desire as an athlete is to “compete for the pleasure of [your] Heavenly Father, the honor of Christ and the reputation of the Holy Spirit.” That is truly competing with a spiritual focus, not a physical focus.
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July 08, 2013
Set:
I recently saw my old coach whom I love and respect. He seemed even closer to Christ and his faith more vibrant than the last time I saw him. He is 67 and still desires to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. It gives me great optimism. My coach will never change. For him to change would be to stop moving forward, to stop desiring God. He knows he is on a journey, he knows where his citizenship rests.
Can we grasp how hard it is, and yet how fundamental it is to progress? Our brains, bodies, and even friends resist our transformation. Habit, routine, and a planned agenda give a sense of security. The older we get, the harder change becomes. It is much easier to transplant a sapling than a mature tree.
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July 07, 2013
Set:
Henry Ford used to dress incognito and walk throughout his factories, randomly giving $100 bills to those working hard and staying on task, even though their managers were far out of sight. As word spread about this “mystery money man,” production sales skyrocketed. By 1914, Ford held roughly 48% of the automobile industry.
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July 06, 2013
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July 05, 2013
Set:
I love the Olympics. The last time they were on, I could not help but stay up and watch. My greatest memory of the games was the opening ceremonies. As I watched athletes from around the world stand together, I was reminded of the power of athletics to build bridges between people from very different backgrounds.
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July 04, 2013
Set:
Athletes today live in a “me first” society. Many like to be served, not serve. Some professional athletes lead the way on “me first!” Yet, we hear stories of some who put others in front of themselves. Jason is one of those athletes. He has learned the art of “you before me.”
Paul teaches us that we can be very selfish. In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul explained that others are more important than ourselves. This is not to put us down, but to lift the needs of others higher. A dear evangelist friend of mine, Aidan McKenzie, once said, “If there are two people in the room and you are one of them, guess who is more important? It’s not you.” That is something good to live by.
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July 03, 2013
Set:
When we think of worshiping God, what comes to mind? Praying? Going to church? Singing? Worship includes these things, but encompasses much more.
When I started in professional tennis, I aimlessly played for my own pleasure. Gradually, I realized we are to worship the Lord in everything we do. So how can we worship through sports? Much of the answer lies in our attitude and motivation.
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July 02, 2013
Set:
All teams have one thing in common: They pursue goals. Some might pursue a state or national championship; others strive to win a single game. Athletes compete and complete their set goals through hard work and relentless pursuit.
The Apostle Paul understood this concept. He wrote the Letter to the Philippians while stuck in a dark, smelly, dingy prison handcuffed to a guard. Many in his situation would have given up. While under arrest, Paul kept thenfaith and pursued his heavenly goals. The longing for Christ and the desire to spend eternity with Him gave Paul hope each day to strive ahead. Paul’s pursuit was not an easy task. He suffered many setbacks, but it never stopped him from pressing on toward the prize awaiting him.
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July 01, 2013
Set:
Ask any athlete who has ever won a championship game if they regret the time and effort they spent developing as a player. In the middle of the season, they may have been frustrated or tired, but when the end result is being a champion, no one wishes they had put in less effort or spent less time practicing.
In Mark 8 Jesus was confronted by a blind man with a pretty direct request: he wanted to see. Jesus touched the man and asked if he saw anything. He could see, but not clearly. Did Jesus make a mistake? Or did He want the man to learn something about the way He works?
