Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Game Time!

"...As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." - Joshua 1:5

It is amazing to watch the athletes I coach in practice begin to really understand what it is they are being taught. It is really cool when you see the ball come off their racquet with increased speed and accuracy that certainly was not there before.

Now remember, that was practice. Now we transition to the game. It is more amazing to see what an opponent on the otherside of the net and a score will do to these same athletes. All of a sudden every ball is "patty caked" into the middle of the court just to be sure they do not miss.

If anyone must have been afraid to "whiff" in scripture it must have been Joshua. Moses has just died and now God was appointing Joshua to lead the Isrealites to the promised land. It is apparent that Joshua must have been experiencing fear of messing this up because God told him three times in the first nine verses of the book of Joshua to be strong and courageous.

It is really cool to see Joshua understand God's command to lead His people. What is even better is seeing the wisdom Joshua had to believe that God was in control as long as He followed Him. As a christian athlete, God is always with us as He has been with all of His people for thousands of years. So let's freely glorify Him with our gifts and talents without hesitation that comes from the fear of circumstances such as an opponent and a score. Let us be solely concerned with giving Him everything we have for His glory...because he is worthy.

Nate Lewis
Area Representative
Western Nebraska

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