Thursdays Athletic Devotion

Provoked

Roger D. Lipe

READY

“And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works,” – Hebrews 10:24

SET:

What is it that best motivates you to compete at your highest level? Some athletes are motivated by the challenge or thrill of winning. Others are provoked to excellence by the fear of losing. We’re certainly not all wired the same. But we can use Hebrews 10:24 to remind us of those differences and how we can use them to our team’s advantage during competition:

Let us be concerned about one another… This implies that serious thought should be given to each member of the team. Where motivation is concerned, one size does not fit all. Let’s give a real effort in understanding each teammate.

In order to promote… What promotes a great performance in you may not affect me at all or vice versa. One teammate may require a pat on the back while another may be better motivated by a kick in the pants. We must consider what will stir up each person most effectively.

Love and good works. We all know plenty of people who get stirred up and it’s not always toward love and good works. The idea is not to simply stir them up, but to motivate them toward success for the team. Let’s be consciously aware of the things that help each one perform at his or her highest level.

As you compete, give careful attention to the motivational keys in each of your teammates. Find a way to press that button that stirs up the best performance possible in each one.

GO:

1. What motivates you for competition?
2. What stimulates you to love people more?
3. What provokes good works in your life?

WORKOUT:

Titus 2:6-8
James 3:13
I Peter 2:12

OVERTIME:

Father, please enable me to see how I may encourage my teammates to be their best today. Help me provoke them to love and good works in honor of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Sunday's Sermon

Last Sunday, we had a special speaker come in and give an awesome sermon.  It was simply this.  We were put on this earth to:
1. Go
2. Make Disciples
3. Baptize them
4. Teach them God's Way.

Matthew 28:18-20
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The pastor encouraged each one of us to pick four people in our life who weren't saved and to pray for them daily.  I've started to do this and ashamed I haven't made this a daily prayer.  I've prayed for these people before in the past and do off and on but not as a daily obligation.  However, it is our obligation to go out and share Jesus with others, make disciples among the world, baptize them, and teach them God's ways

Athletic Devotional

Another good devotional from FCA:

Born to Play

Marcellus Casey

"READY:

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10

SET:

Athletes are born to play. Competition is the air that we breathe. It takes incredible risk to be an athlete. Everyone sees every move we make. There's always the risk of failure when we step into the arena of sports competition. So why do athletes keep coming back? Why not just stay comfortable in our lives and avoid the risk of the humiliation of mistakes or defeat? Most athletes would say that they are born for competition. There is a satisfaction from achieving success that is worth the risk of failure.

Well, the same is true in our spiritual lives. When we approach a Holy God for a relationship, most people know that we do not possess the perfection that it takes to please God. In order to continue in our pursuit of God, we have to rely on the fact that God will forgive us when we fail, and He will sustain in the risk of failure. We were born for a relationship with God. So why should we walk away when we fail? Take the risk because you were born to give Glory to God in everything you do, as His Masterpiece.

GO:

1. 1. What risks have you taken as an athlete? Were they worth it?
2. Do you have the same mentality toward your spiritual walk as you do athletics? How so?
3. Do you truly live like you believe Christ will pick you up if you fail?

WORKOUT:

2 Corinthians 12:9
1 Corinthians 10:31

OVERTIME:

Lord, give me the strength to live each day all out for you, no matter the risks. Help me have the faith to trust You are always there, ready to catch me if I fall."

Devotional

I loved today's devotional so much I had to share!

"Move those Chains

Jimmy Page (adapted from WisdomWalks Sports)

READY:

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6

SET:

Every time my family goes to a Baltimore Ravens football game we get caught up in signaling and chanting “Move those chains!” on each Ravens first down. You might think, ‘big deal … they moved the ball ten yards.” But first downs lead to touchdowns.

The player or team that practices, prepares and performs with the most consistency generally outplays their opponent. And when we “move the chains,” we create and sustain momentum. Consistency leads to excellence and is fueled by self-discipline.

What we do today determines who we become tomorrow. Moving the chains simply means that you will consistently do what it takes to reach your goal. It means doing the little things. It means doing the hard things – even when you want to quit, even when you don’t feel like it and even when you can’t see the results.

As competitors, we know how to train consistently and put in the practice time necessary to get better. Shortcuts and compromises don't work. But do we apply that same diligence in our spiritual life? Do we train ourselves in godliness? Or are we hit-and-miss? If we continue to pursue God and spend time seeking Him daily we will become more and more like Jesus.

God rewards us when we seek Him. A consistent life leads to both internal transformation and external influence. So let’s strive to take action and do the little things that lead to excellence. Let’s move those chains!

GO:

1. As a competitor, what is your level of training consistency? Spiritual consistency?
2. What are you willing to sacrifice to pursue consistent time with God?

WORKOUT:

Luke 9:23-24 
Proverbs 2:1-5

OVERTIME:

Father, I pray that You would give me a powerful desire for consistent time with You. Help me to dig into Your word daily and carve out regular time for study and prayer. Amen."