Ready:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” —箴言 9:10
Set:
Skill at competing well is something every athlete desires. Even more significant, however, is skill at living well in this world. It’s what the Bible refers to as “wisdom.” To be wise is about more than having knowledge. It’s understanding how to put that knowledge to practical use. More specifically, biblical wisdom is about understanding how to apply what God makes known through His Word in everyday situations—as a competitor and in every other area.
How can we acquire wisdom? It starts here: live and compete with reverence. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This same theme is expressed multiple times in Proverbs. To fear the Lord is to respond to Him with deep awe and reverence. It’s recognizing what is true of God: He is holy, majestic, glorious and great beyond compare.
When we realize how truly awesome God is, we’re amazed and humbled that He would draw near to us and make a way for us to personally relate to Him through Christ. But this experience of His love and grace is not license to treat the Lord with a casual flippancy. Our closeness with Him is saturated with reverence for him. We never lose sight of the fact that He is the all-powerful, all-knowing, Most High God who is worthy of our worship and undivided devotion.
Reverence for the Lord leads us to be shaped by Him in how we live and compete rather than being shaped by the influences of the world around us. Our awe of God compels us to want to share His heart, reflect His character and pursue His purposes. When we’re marked by deep reverence for the Lord, we’re motivated to live and compete for an audience of One: Jesus Christ.
Do you want to grow in being skilled at speaking, acting, relating and leading according to God’s good design in everyday situations? Cultivate a deepening reverence for God. Let a genuine awe of the Lord be the foundation for how you live and compete.
Go:
What hinders you from responding to the Lord with genuine reverence?
How does a deepening awe of God affect your approach to your sport and to other areas of your life?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, I praise You because You are truly awesome. I pray that I would grow in genuine reverence for You. I want to live and compete according to Your good design and for Your glory. Amen.”