Ready:
“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” – John 15:11
Set:
It’s common for competitors to focus on “outworking” their opponents. While giving great effort is crucial, some of the most successful teams also emphasize this: playing with joy. When we compete with joy, it has a way of raising the level of our performance.
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” As God through His Spirit is growing us in spiritual maturity, how we live will be increasingly marked by certain qualities—one of which is joy.
Joy is a deep, consistent delight at the core of our being based not on favorable circumstances but rather on the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord. As Jesus affirms in John 15:11, we experience deepening joy as we trust Christ and surrender control of our life to Him. We’re filled with joy as we recognize the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness to us day by day. Our joy in Christ enables us to stay positive and encourage others even when present circumstances are challenging.
When you are growing in joy through responding to the work of God’s Spirit in you, you can compete with a joy that is contagious. Your teammates or those you coach will be drawn to your joy, giving you opportunities to point to the Source of this joy. While working hard to improve, never lose sight of the fact that sports are intended to be fun! Being able to participate in sports is a gift—and every good gift comes from God (James 1:17).
Daily delight in God’s goodness and faithfulness to you, including giving you the chance to play or coach your sport. Compete with joy out of gratitude to the Lord.
Go:
To what extent are you currently competing with joy?
What can you do to help you consistently recognize God’s goodness and faithfulness, enabling you to experience deepening joy?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord Jesus, thank You for the joy You give as I trust and follow You. Thank You that in You is fullness of joy. I pray that through Your Spirit’s work in me I would live and compete with joy today. Amen.”