Ready:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”—Proverbes 3:5-6
Set:
I’ve heard multiple coaches and athletes share something like this: “When I was a young, I was overly confident in myself and my perspective. I wanted to do my own thing rather than listen to what the older coaches or athletes around me said. But I soon discovered that this was not very effective. I was far more successful when I paid attention to their guidance and instructions. I discovered the benefits of trusting them rather than thinking I had it figured out myself.”
Determining who or what is ultimately worthy of our trust is a big part of becoming a wise competitor. Biblical wisdom is understanding how to apply God’s Word in everyday situations, which leads to skill at living well in this world—including in the context of our sport. According to Proverbs 3:5-6, we grow in wisdom as we put our confidence in the Lord rather than depending upon ourselves. Here’s why this makes sense: God is the only One who knows and understands all things, who is sovereign over all and who is all-powerful. We develop skill in living well in this world as we pay attention to the guidance and instructions of the God who created us and created the world.
This trust in the Lord is to be “with all your heart.” In the Bible, the “heart” encompasses more than our emotions. It includes our thoughts and our will, which are at the root of our actions. To trust in the Lord with all our heart is to live out our confidence in every area. Verse 6 reinforces this: “In all your ways acknowledge him.” To acknowledge the Lord is to recognize His rightful place as the ruler of all. We want to submit to Him and follow His will because we fully believe God’s design for us is always best. We deepen our understanding of God’s will as we look to His Word and seek His guidance through prayer.
When we trust Him, the Lord “will make [our] paths straight.” This doesn’t mean this path will be easy. Following Christ in our sport and other areas often means swimming against the current of what many around us are doing. But as we live and compete in ways that demonstrate our confidence in Him and our commitment to His will, this leads to Christ-honoring results. We will live and compete wisely.
Go:
In what ways do you need to turn away from trusting yourself and instead trust the Lord?
What steps can you take to cultivate deeper confidence in God and a greater understanding of His will?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, I praise You because You are completely trustworthy. I desire to put my full confidence in You, not in myself or anything else. I look to You and trust You as You guide me. Amen.”