Runners Devotion

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33 NIV)

In everything we do, we should always try to glorify God.  We also should never cause our peers to sin or turn from God.  Therefore, our actions and what we say affect many.  One group run can stir the hearts of some lost souls or turn a wondering soul away from God.  It is so important we try to glorify God in every way and each way we can so more can be blessed by his grace and mercy.  

Runners Devotion

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:24, 25 NIV)

I run, not to medal, but for several reasons spiritually.  I run to take care of God's temple (my body) which he has given me temporarily while I'm here on Earth.  I run to release myself from daily stresses and take in anything God may want to tell me.  I run and pray. When I run in a group, I run to share encouragement.  There are so many prizes with running.  

In this verse, God had the author use running and the prize as our life and living for salvation in  Jesus. He is the ulitmate prize to everlasting life.  Amen!

Nov. 22, 2013

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

Building endurance

Fired Up

Jimmy Page (adapted from WisdomWalks Sports)

READY:

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” – James 1:2-4

SET:

Cut from the team. Knee blows out senior year. Lose the state title. Playing time disappears. Your mistake costs the team a win. As a competitor, all these circumstances are considered tough trials. Add academic pressure or conflict at home and you can feel overwhelmed.

But our character is uncovered during life’s trials. It is revealed and refined in the fire. When we are squeezed, what comes out shows us what’s inside. And for God to truly transform us, it takes time, pressure and heat. He forms our character the same way he forms diamonds. When the element carbon is forced deep beneath the surface of the earth, it encounters extreme temperatures and pressure. Those extreme conditions transform carbon into diamonds. And when they rise again to the surface, they display the brilliance of the light.

So, when we face trials, we can do it with joy, knowing God will use every piece of the pressure and pain to produce perseverance and maturity. And if we let our character be formed in the fire, we, too, will shine in His light. Going through tough times will make us unshakeable and Him unmistakable.

GO:

1. Have you experienced adversity or trials that have tested your faith?
2. What are the purposes of the pain we suffer in this life?
3. How important is it to have others walk with you through your trials?

WORKOUT:

1 Peter 4:12-16
2 Corinthians 1:3-6
Proverbs 17:17

OVERTIME:

Father, I know that storms are not optional, but inevitable. Use these trials to transform me and change me into the person You have made me to be. Let me rejoice when I face trials and struggles and trust that You have a reason. Form my character through the fire. Amen.

Want more Relentless studies? Check out the Athletes Bible atfcagear.com

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."