247 Articles

How to Find Balance as a Coach

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:34:31 GMT

Article By Mark Jones, FCA Central Maine Representative

Questions to ask yourself when you are stretched too thin.

“Balance provides the chance for longevity. You can be a champion at work and at home.”

This piece of wisdom is courtesy of former NFL coach Tony Dungy. His friend and former coach Herm Edwards said Dungy was about faith, family and football, in that order, no exceptions.

At times, we feel we must “burn the candle at both ends” just to get everything done. Here are some sobering stats from a coach’s perspective: On average, a college football coach will work 75 hours a week, while watching 14 hours of film, and doing seven hours of recruiting per week. That is a lot of candle-burning!

Other coaches—high school, middle school and so on—may not be “full-time” coaches, but they are likely working a full-time job and still sticking to the rigors of a coaching responsibility. That can fuel stress! These coaches could be spouses and/or parents, people who do community service, people with cars and houses to maintain or bills to pay. Perhaps they are deacons or elders in their churches. All the pressures add up.

There is no shortage of opportunities that sound fun and even glamourous or prestigious. But opportunities can come with baggage that adds to an already-burdened person.

So, what can be done?

Coach, if you find balance hard, ask yourself these questions:

Do you have margin?

Jesus Himself taught us about margin. Mark 1:35 says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He (Jesus) got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place; and there He was praying.”

Multiple Gospel accounts have Jesus removing Himself from everyone else, and most of the time He was in prayer. Here it mentioned prayer specifically, but the point is important things in life need time. As Jesus role-modeled, time to pray is important. If you are a spouse and/or a parent, the people in your family are important. Rest is important.

What gives you energy?

The “spiritual disciplines” are important. In the above verse, Jesus modeled two: solitude and prayer. After fasting for 40 days in the wilderness (mentioned in Luke 4 and Matthew 4), Jesus was challenged by the devil to make stones into bread. Jesus then quoted Deuteronomy 8:3:

“…man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

The word used for “live” in both the Old and New Testaments means to “quick.” Our animation, our ability to live and operate as Christians, comes from God’s Word, not just the food on our table.

Once we learn to build in margins, we can properly nourish our spirit with a proper diet of the Lord and His Word.

What is your focus?

As a coach, there is a charge of excitement when one of your athletes gets that scholarship or succeeds at the next level. There is nothing wrong with that, unless that is all your coaching is about. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Coaching to the glory of God does two things. First, it keeps your focus where it needs to be. Mistakes by players, or even your mistakes, are not life or death. You will see great teaching moments about life, not solely sport. Secondly, you give God thanks by coaching for Him. Your coaching is a praise to the Lord who gave you everything to coach as you do, including His Son.

Do you serve?

It might sound like more work, but God, through the disciple Peter, gives us a directive about serving.

“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.” –1 Peter 4:10-11

By making time to serve away from your sport, you uplift others with the gifts you have been given. Plus, serving takes focus off yourself and puts it on another. Compassion for others can go a long way towards not feeling over-burdened.

Don’t let the burden win. Bring it to your Lord. Jesus died to untie you from burdens. Live in this truth and see what God does with not just your coaching, but your life.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “… and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” –Ephesians 3:19

Question: Do you have margin in your life? If not, how might you be able to shape your time to make some ?

Challenge: Make some time to step away for a day, or even a few hours, and get quiet with God. Ask Him about your schedule and life, and ask Him to see where you can make changes to better live in rhythm with Him and the people He’s entrusted to you.

CTA: Coaches juggle a lot, but it can often seem like the scales fall unbalanced. To help discern what it look like to maintain a rhythm of renewal as a coach in Christ, visit FCA’s The CORE .

*If you read this article and aren’t in relationship with Christ yet but would like to know more, we invite you to go through FCA’s The FOUR that explains how an everlasting and fulfilling life with God is possible.

What Refuels You?

sfreymuth@fca.org (Sarah Freymuth) — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 13:30:03 GMT

Article By Sarah Freymuth, FCA Communications Manager

Jesus is the source of living water that empowers us to keep going.

Seasons get long. Our bodies get tired. Our minds get worn down.

It’s inevitable. Eventually, we will hit a lull in our workouts, a plateau we can’t seem to get past.

The grind of game time gets us weary when we’re smack dab in the middle of a season with still a ways to go.

Add on top of that, our home lives, homework and the expectations of others can all seem to mount at the same time. It can feel like too much, making us want to burrow under the blankets and take our time getting out of bed.

We need replenishment. True replenishment.

Not just a quick fix like a Netflix binge, but something deeper, lasting. We are in desperate need of slowing down and replenishing our weary souls with the deep and quenching waters of Jesus Christ.

And Jesus knows this. He’s known it from the beginning, as He knows it now. He offers grace to us in abundance, where we drink living water that does not stop flowing.

“On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.’” –John 7:37-38

In this story, Jesus had arrived during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, where crowds have swelled to their peak and the people packed into Jerusalem to remember God’s provision in the wilderness and to look ahead to the coming of the promised Messiah. He began teaching in the temple and engaging with the Pharisees and religious leaders. This was a heated moment, as more and more people were gathering to hear what Jesus had to say. Looking around, Jesus saw how weary they were, tired from the pilgrimage journey and laboring under the law. He knew what the people needed. And He offered it to them eagerly, urgently. He offered them Himself through the metaphor of streams of living water.

We all thirst. And we all find ways to quench it—although some ways are holier than others. Underneath our disguise is an earnest need for what only Jesus can give. For true replenishment, you need to let Jesus:

Nourish You

If you haven’t put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, or if you’ve filled up your heart with the things of this world and Jesus is asking for His space back, take a moment to confess where you have fallen short and placed other things as more important. Recognize that Jesus has taken on the sin and shame that was yours and given you eternal life with God the Father through His death and resurrection. Surrender to His love and invite Him to be Lord of your life.

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” –Romans 10:13

Sustain You

Jesus wants to be in your everyday life. He wants you to know Him just as much as He knows you. Carve out times of quiet with Him, where you can prepare your heart in praise and be open to hear what God may want to share with you. Read the Bible; this is where He reveals Himself the most and where your mind and heart transform through the power of His active Word.

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” –Romans 12:2

Challenge You

Following Him isn’t easy. It’s a constant battle of flesh and spirit, will and mind. Sometimes, He will call us to difficult obedience, like giving up a bad habit that isn’t best for us. Other times, He’ll give us something to think about, a way of living we’ve never considered. God’s goal is sanctification—becoming holy and purified, like Jesus. By His Spirit, we can open up our hearts to be changed for our good and God’s glory.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” –1 Thessalonians 5:23

When we feel depleted from a never-ending season, we can go to Him to be refilled. When we’re discouraged, He will feed us truth. Jesus is the source of living water that empowers us to keep going as we live and work out of His overflow.

What nourishes your soul? Let God refuel you today.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “… and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” –Ephesians 3:19

Question: What refuels you? Is it a lasting refueling, or something that only goes so far then leaves you empty again?

Challenge: Ask yourself if you are truly putting your hope in Christ alone. If not, what adjustments do you need to make to surrender to His Lordship in your life?

CTA: Find a group of people who can help remind you to keep refueling in Christ--join an FCA Huddle near you: Find a Huddle

Be Where Your Feet Are

sfreymuth@fca.org (Sarah Freymuth) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 18:44:50 GMT

Article By Sarah Freymuth, FCA Communications Manager

Stop looking forward or backward and see where God is moving right here and now.

We’re always thinking about the next play, the next season, the next new training method that’s going to give us the edge over our competition. Or we’re looking behind at the last season that ended too quickly in the postseason, what we could have done better to help our team.

It’s like our default is set to overthink and worry about where we’re going and how the pieces are going to match up to make it happen. But what does dwelling in the past or fretting about the future get us? Nothing but more worry.

We are too easily distracted about what’s coming up or ruminating on what we could have altered that we miss what’s right now. And there’s plenty right in front of us that deserves our presence.

God is with us in the moment. He says He is with us, and it’s important to slow ourselves down enough to experience all He has for us in the here and now.

Jesus knows how prone our minds are to wander, worrying about how we’re going to provide for our families, where we’re going to go to college, if we’re going to keep our starting spot.

He’s given us a frame of reference that realigns us with what’s important, a reminder to lay everything at His feet and trust God to take care of our needs.

In His message on the mountain, Jesus lays out an entirely new framework for living. This includes a remedy for worry:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” –Matthew 6:33-34

What can we pull from this passage that can help us relax and simply be in this moment?

Seek God's Kingdom

Look to the Lord and His heart through prayer. Get in His Word, get quiet and listen to what He wants to say. Starting our day with God gives us the grace we need to go through the morning, and an anchor to hold to when we are tempted to veer away when the worries and what if’s come circling.

“You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.” –Jeremiah 29:13

Make Your Requests

We can quickly shift our minds to the things that bring worry and the toil that takes us down a tailspin of anxiety. We want to know we will be provided for, and that we will have the means to provide. God knows what we need. He wants us to come to Him and make our requests known, then to leave that request at His feet and trust Him to take care of us.

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” –Philippians 4:6

Focus on the Present

Tomorrow has enough worry and trial that will inevitably come. Why heap that on top of today’s troubles? Make it your ambition to go throughout today and look for things you’re grateful for. See where God is at work, and notice. Thank Him for His presence and provision, and believe this will be a continuing thing as day by day, you learn to lean into Him and pay attention to the wondrous world around you.

“This is the day the Lord has made;
let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” –Psalm 118:24

When we realign our hearts and minds with a Kingdom perspective, a lot of our distractions dissolve. Our lives will reflect God as we love a struggling teammate rather than attempt to outperform him in the weight room. It will bring peace as we stop checking our messages incessantly to see if that bigger school is interested in hiring us for the head coaching role and instead focus in on the team we’re currently coaching.

Relax. Give your cares to God. Pay attention. Take time to slow down and notice the people and places around you. God is in this moment, and this moment is all you have. Live in it.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” –Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV

Question: Do you tend to look forward to what hasn’t happened, or dwell on the past? What can keep you focused on living in the present moment?

Challenge: Lift your eyes off yourself and onto someone else. Write a note of encouragement to a teammate. See where you can serve in your community. Do some yardwork for your parents.

CTA: Want a deeper look into being present? Start FCA’s YouVersion four-day Bible reading plan on 24/7, going from overwhelmed to overflowing and stopping to pause in the present: FCA 24/7

How to Play with Purpose

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 14:00:00 GMT

Article By Amber Johns, FCA Upstate New York Director

When we learn to live for the glory of God, it impacts everything.

“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure.” - Eric Liddell, 1924 Olympian and missionary

Scottish runner Eric Liddell’s story is legend and famously portrayed in the movie Chariots of Fire. Liddell grew up in a missionary family but also had a gift of running. His feet took him to the Olympics in 1924 before going to China as a missionary.

To those who are familiar with Liddell’s story, we can see how sports and faith intersect in a way only God can orchestrate. As athletes, we are made a certain way. We are made to be strong, fast, tall, short, explosive , and competitive. We are willing to sacrifice our time and our bodies for the chance to win. Many of us do not recognize our athletic ambition and ability as a gift from God and a way for us to worship Him. God takes great pleasure in watching us use our athletic and competitive gifts. This takes the pressure off our performance and centers us around our motivation, which we should ask ourselves about. Do we play for an audience of one?

We must first get to the heart of our purpose in life before we can recognize how to compete with a sense of purpose and as an act of worship. We must be honest that sports can easily unleash a selfish side in all of us. We can be so inwardly focused on our performance we fail to look outward at the opportunity to reflect His glory.

When we walk onto the field or the track, or pick up that racket, do we acknowledge the only reason we are out there is because our Creator wills it to be so? We can easily lose sight of our greater purpose in sports, and that’s to make Him known. How do we compete with purpose?

Alone Time

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” –Proverbs 4:23, NIV

Be intentional about alone time with God to guard your heart. What happens in private affects what happens in public. This is the time we train our hearts to be postured to God.

We know how to dedicate time to train for our sport; now we need to be dedicated in our time alone with Jesus. In this quiet space and in time of prayer, focus on these three things to create a posture toward playing with purpose:

1) Thank God for your ability to play. We can all whisper a short sentence of praise before we step into the competitive playing arena.

2) Acknowledge and repent where we have made sports all about us.

3) Know God is worthy of your praise and acknowledge He made you a certain way. When you compete, you can feel His pleasure.

This diligent time alone with God will impact your faith on the field. You will face all kinds of challenges and victories. In the quiet spaces, you develop a relationship with the One who created you for sport and created you with a sense of purpose far beyond winning and losing.

Honor

“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” –1 Peter 2:17

Honoring your teammates and coaches will have a profound impact not only on them, but also on you. Honor is not a word that is commonly used today, but it can change the course of attitudes, team unity and perspective.

How can you honor your coaches and your teammates?

• Never engage in team chatter that disparages one another or a competitor.

• Verbally thank coaches for their time and efforts.

• Create ways your team to get together.

• Be the first to encourage your teammates and praise them publicly.

• Be excellent in your training practices.

• Forgive easily.

• Be wise and honorable on social media.

• Be competitive on the field and compassionate off the field.

Service

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in various forms.” –1 Peter 4:10, NIV

Serving others well is one of the most impactful things we can do as athletes. When we serve others, we elevate them and fill our own hearts with joy. Acts of service are God’s way of ministering to those around us because it’s counterculture to the generally accepted athlete’s act of self-promotion.

Lead by serving others. Be the first to practice, clean up the training pitch or text a teammate who is having a hard time. If you are gifted in a certain area of your sport, offer to spend extra time training teammates. There are many ways to serve, and God will lay those on your heart in your alone time with Him. It’s all a part of the reason you are competing where you are.

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” –Colossians 3:17

We are made for God’s glory, and playing with purpose allows us to worship Him by utilizing the bodies God has given us in a unique way. We can be disappointed in losses and celebratory in wins, but neither define our worth. It takes the pressure of our performance and puts the spotlight on the One who really deserves it.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Question: What is your purpose for competing? What does God say about that purpose?

Challenge: Memorize Ephesians 4:22-24 and let it rule your heart and mind as you compete.

CTA: There’s a difference to your performance when you play for an Audience of One. Take your faith on the field and look to the Lord to impact your performance. Go through The CORE

How to Coach with Purpose

Wed, 15 May 2024 15:52:00 GMT

Article By Sarah Roberts

What Nehemiah can teach us about staying focused on our “why”.

In the 2023 Women’s College World Series, the Oklahoma Sooners won their 7 ^th National Championship, but that is not what the world was talking about after everything was said and done. Although a few million people watched the Sooners play softball, over 28 million people watched their post-game press conference. It started with an ESPN reporter asking, “How do you handle the pressure and keep the joy when anxiety can easily set in?”

Captain and All-American short stop Grace Lyons opened with the statement, “The only way you can have a joy that doesn’t fade away is from the Lord.” Fan favorite and center fielder Jayda Coleman followed with, “When we won the World Series as a freshman, I didn’t feel joy. I didn’t feel fulfilled. I had to find Christ to have the joy I was looking for.” And then the third base star Alyssa Brito finished with adding, “We are fixing our eyes on Christ—we can’t find our fulfillment in an outcome, good or bad.”

That is what the world saw and was encouraged by, but what people did not see was the reporter’s follow-up with Coach Patty Gasso. When asked if she would like to say something, she replied, “I cannot add anything to that. They said it all.”

This wasn’t surprising to Coach Gasso. Why? Because this is what she lives and teaches, and this is the culture she has created in the program. Before the big stage, before the season even started, she took every player out to eat for some one-on-one time. She tries to connect with their hearts before she pushes them as athletes. I have served this team as their chaplain for 19 years and have a front row seat to a coach who learned and lives her purpose along the way.

What can we learn from one of the greatest coaches of all time when it comes to coaching with purpose? The same things we can learn from Nehemiah, who also built something great with purpose.

Know Your Why

After the Babylonians had destroyed the city of Jerusalem and its walls, the Israelites were under the rule of the Persians. Nehemiah was the King of Persia’s cup holder. As Nehemiah heard reports of his ruined city, he was blessed with a burden. “When I heard this, I wept. In fact, for days, I fasted, mourned, and prayed to the God in heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4).

How could a cup holder have a purpose? How could God use a simple position? Instead of Nehemiah asking how, it led him to Who . After Nehemiah prayed, fasted, and mourned, God showed him his why. God showed him that his place as the king’s cup holder put him in a position of favor with the king; he had the opportunity to rebuild the wall around his beloved city of Jerusalem.

"…the king asked me, ‘Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.’” Then I was terrified, but I replied, ‘Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.’ The king asked, ‘Well, how can I help you?’” –Nehemiah 2:2-4

Nehemiah knew his why as the king’s cup holder: To use his position to help rebuild his ancestor’s city with the help of God, for the glory of God. Coach Bill Wash said, “If your why is strong enough, you will figure out how.”

As coaches, you have been put in a position of power and influence, but if your “why” is simply to win games, you might miss out on building something great.

Make Your Game Plan

Every coach has a game plan to get the best out of their athletes and a game plan against every opponent they play. Coaching with purpose needs a game plan too. And honestly, we could benefit from Nehemiah’s game plan.

1) Learn to pray under pressure.

Coaching brings a lot of pressure from school, parents, boosters, etc. Some coaches will panic under pressure. Some coaches will overthink under pressure. But coaches with purpose who know they are building something great learn to pray under pressure.

“With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, ‘If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.’” –Nehemiah 2:4b

What if we prayed before we replied to the angry parent’s email or addressing the team? What if we prayed before coaches’ meetings? Praying under pressure should always be the first step in our game plan.

2) Building something great always takes a team.

Coaching can be a lonely profession. It can feel like it is all on our shoulders, all the time, and it can be overwhelming. Nehemiah had a game plan: build it with a team.

“Each one repaired the section immediately across from his own house.” (Nehemiah 3:28)

EVERYONE BUILT. The priests built. The perfume makers built. Fathers and daughters built. Merchants built. If they looked at the task at hand of building the whole wall, it would have seemed be too much, too hard, too overwhelming. But they each focused on what needed to be done right in front of them. Coaches who coach with purpose see everyone on their team has a purpose.

3) Don’t get distracted from the work by the opposition to the work.

People were trying to discourage, intimidate and distract them from the work. But Nehemiah knew the job was not going to get finished if he focused on them.

“I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?...They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.” –Nehemiah 6:3,9

As coaches who have been called to build something great for God’s Kingdom, you better believe there will be naysayers on social media, negative comments in your inbox, and discouragement from the stands. But we, like Nehemiah, “continue the work with even greater determination.”

Nehemiah and his team finished the amazing task of building the wall in just 52 days. And what they realized was Who had enabled them to do their job well.

When we live out our purpose as coaches, obedience will always be up to us, but the outcome will always be up to God. To Him be the glory!

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Question: What can we learn from the lessons of Nehemiah? What will it take for you to live out your God-given purpose?

Challenge: Pick two main points of your work and commit to them, focusing on doing them well and doing them with the Lord.

CTA: There’s a deeper purpose to your coaching when you let God lead. It transforms your mindset, approach and interaction with your players. Get engrossed with the E3 Discipleship method: https://university.fca.org/courses/e3/

Find Your Identity Beyond Sports

sfreymuth@fca.org (Sarah Freymuth) — Wed, 01 May 2024 13:00:03 GMT

Article By Sarah Freymuth

It's not about what you do, but whose you are.

When people ask you about yourself, what do you say?

“I’m a quarterback.”

“I play basketball.”

“I’m from Portland.”

Those are all valid responses, but they won’t help people know you.

You see, what defines us is not our position, placement or any other label. It goes deeper than that. We can get so wrapped up in what we do that we forget who we are. And who we are is most important, because everything else flows from there.

God does not intend for us to be so preoccupied by our performance that we forget we are first and foremost beloved by Him.

“Now this is what the Lord says—
the one who created you, Jacob,
and the one who formed you, Israel—
‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are mine.’” –Isaiah 43:1

Before Jesus ever did a single minute of public ministry, God looked down on Him and declared that Jesus was loved. He was rooted in His identity as the Father’s Son. He was baptized by His cousin John to fulfill prophesy. Jesus gave us the example to follow, not because He needed to repent of any sin, but to stay in step with the will of His Father, which was His desire for His people to repent and be devoted to God.

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?’

Jesus answered him, ‘Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John allowed him to be baptized.

When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.’” --Matthew 3:13-17

This is God’s beloved Son, with whom He is well pleased. Not by anything He’s done, but simply because of who He is.

We too are God’s chosen people, and He calls us His children. This is the truth of who you are:

You Are Loved

The God of the universe looks at you and loves you intimately. He created us in His image, for His glory, and to share in close relationship with Him. There is nothing He has held back to bring us close, including giving up His Son Jesus to take away the sin of the world and bring us into the Kingdom of God forever.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16

You Are Chosen

God set us apart as His children. As such, we are invited into the wonderful world of God’s Kingdom. We share this Kingdom here on Earth and enjoy the benefits of being in God’s family. Peace, joy, love, hope—they are all ours in abundance.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” –1 Peter 2:9

You Are Set Apart

From the very beginning, God loved and chose you for His family, and He has set you apart as such. You are part of a special family, a royal priesthood, and God has given you good and specific things to do. You have influence in ways that only you can, and lives to touch that God has intentionally placed in your own life.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” –Ephesians 2:10

You are loved, you are chosen and you are set apart. The more we lean into who we are in Christ, the more we begin to associate with the Kingdom of God and long to renew our minds, bodies and souls to what is pleasing to the Lord. It’s not in accomplishment or awards. Like Jesus, we don’t have to try and impress anyone with our stats or position. We can rest in our status as God’s beloved children.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Question: Where do you place your identity? How does knowing you are God’s beloved child make a difference in your life?

Challenge: Pick one of the three reminders we talked about and focus on memorizing the coinciding Scripture. Repeat it to yourself when you need to remember who you are.

CTA: We can get wrapped up in identifying as what we do, not who we are. Examine who you are in God’s eyes and let that lead your life. Go through The FOUR to understand: https://thefour.fca.org/

Why Do You Coach?

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:47:43 GMT

Article By Josh Cooley

Redefining our coaching motivation.

“Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.”

You’ve heard that before, right? This quote, often attributed to Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi, is said to have actually originated with Henry Russell “Red” Sanders, who coached UCLA football during a run of dominance in the 1950s, including the 1954 national championship.

It’s a common mindset in sports. Those who want to win above all else, so the thinking goes, possess the heart of “a true competitor” … “a real champion.”

Consider these thoughts on winning from other well-known sports figures:

● “Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.” –Kobe Bryant

● “Winning solves everything.” –Tiger Woods

● “The person that said, ‘Winning isn’t everything’ never won anything.” –Mia Hamm

● “I used to think that losing made you more hungry and determined, but after my success at the Olympics and the U.S. Open, I realize that winning is the biggest motivation.” –Andy Murray

● “I’m a mad dog whose only concern is winning.” –Charles Barkley

Clearly, winning is the ultimate goal for many who coach and play sports—and it has been for some time. And let’s be honest: Winning is important—for job security, if nothing else! Today’s sub-.500 coach is tomorrow’s employment applicant.

Yet from a biblical perspective, winning indeed isn’t everything, and it’s not the only thing. In fact, it’s relatively insignificant. The Bible never measures success by human standards.

So why do you coach? What’s your “why”?

As we reflect on this, let’s consider 2 Timothy 1:9:

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

While you probably won’t find this verse on many locker room placards or coaching coffee mugs, it powerfully speaks of God’s purpose, which in turn should inform ours.

The apostle Paul here lists two reasons why God saved us from our sins and called us to walk in faith and obedience: His purpose and grace . God’s grace is His unmerited favor toward us. We did nothing to deserve His love, His forgiveness or the eternal life He offers. It’s all grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

In fact, if you are His child, He bestowed this indescribable, sin-shattering, death-defying grace upon you “before the beginning of time.” The Ancient of Days wrote your name in His book before you were born. The Lord God Almighty chose you before you drew breath. Call timeout and reflect on that.

In addition to God’s grace, Paul also talks about God’s purpose in saving us. What is this purpose? While Paul doesn’t elaborate on it much here, we see elsewhere in Scripture that God’s ultimate purpose in everything is to bring glory to Himself. This always results in our good!

God created us for His glory (Isaiah 43:7), and He saves us for His glory (Romans 9:22-24). It’s clear, then, that the life He calls us to is also for His glory. This includes everything we put our hands to, including coaching. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Today, remember God’s glory. The next time you pick up the clipboard, put on the headset or loop the whistle around your neck, remember God’s glory. Our gracious God set His affection upon us in eternity past, sent His perfect Son to redeem us from sin and death, and lovingly called us into His forever kingdom. This amazing truth should pervade everything we do, including the way we lead the athletes in our charge. As coaches who follow Christ, we are defined—and should be motivated—by something far greater than wins and losses in competition.

Perhaps, then, we can amend that well-known phrase about winning to something more accurate. For every coach who seeks God’s kingdom, “Winning isn’t everything, but God’s glory is.”

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Question: Why do you What does winning mean to you? What do you think God’s view of winning and success is?

Challenge: Seek God’s Kingdom through prayer, Bible study and community. It will help you coach with a Kingdom mindset.

CTA: What’s your why for coaching? Take a deeper look into your coaching motivation through FCA’s 360 Coaching Course: https://360coach.fca.org/

Photo courtesy of YK Photography

Renew

sfreymuth@fca.org (Sarah Freymuth) — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 01:13:26 GMT

Renew

“… to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” -Ephesians 4:22-24

Once you’ve taken time for a reset, you can find freedom in the truth of a new identity and new purpose in Christ. That freedom only matters, however, because He renews your life—by giving you a new heart. When God gives you a new heart, He also gives you a new purpose and, through His Holy Spirit, new power to walk out that purpose with boldness, confidence and conviction. You can do anything God calls you to do, but you can’t do it alone!

After his reset, Peter still went through a challenging three-year process that led him to understand God’s truth.

In the days and hours before Jesus faced trial, torture and crucifixion, Peter refused to believe that Jesus would die (Matthew 16:21-23), cut the ear off one of the soldiers who was arresting Jesus (Luke 22:47-53), and denied that he knew Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75) just as Jesus had prophesied (Matthew 26:31-35).

When Jesus was taken away to be crucified for our sins, all the disciples, except for John, fled the scene in fear. Three days later, Jesus was miraculously raised from the dead and began appearing to His closest followers. On one occasion (John 21:1-19), Peter was fishing when Jesus approached the shore and began preparing a fire to make breakfast.

Just like the first time they met, Jesus performed a miracle and filled Peter’s nets with more fish than could be handled. Peter ran to meet Jesus. Even though Peter had sinned against Jesus through his denial, Jesus welcomed Peter, restored him, and called him to share the Gospel with the world.

Peter’s new heart gave him new purpose as one of the most successful evangelists in Christian church history. Many years later, Peter wrote these powerful words:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." -1 Peter 1:3

As an athlete, a reset will often lead to a change in key elements such as training, practice, nutrition and even sleep habits. These changes take place when you’re tired of getting the same results, which leads to in a shift in your mindset.

The same is true for your spiritual life. There are negative attitudes, stressful thoughts, and bad habits that are doing you harm. Your spiritual reset should lead to changes in how you approach every day.

There’s one difference. You can’t make spiritual changes on your own. It’s through the renewal of your heart (or your spirit) that Jesus gives you the ability to change those things that are holding you back. Real change can only happen when you ask Him to forgive your sins and accept the salvation He paid for on the cross.

As you are renewed in Christ, you have a new heart, which creates a new identity in Him. Then, there is a new purpose to your life: To spread the Gospel and live your life for Jesus. As an athlete, your new purpose might be to use your sport as a way to reflect how Christ changed your life or to share the Gospel with teammates, coaches, and others within your sphere of influence.

You also have access to the power of the Holy Spirit, who will give you strength and courage to do what God has called you to do. As you step out in this new purpose and power, you will begin to see your life transformed.

This is the focus: Through Christ, I have a new identity and purpose in Him.

Why Do You Compete?

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:00:01 GMT

Article By Mickey Seward

You are more than what the box score says.

Athletes compete for many reasons. But which ones truly matter?

Working in college athletics for nearly two decades, there was one question I heard after almost every event. “Can I see the box score?” athletes would ask, ready to boil down their performance in that game to a single line of statistics.

Sometimes, they would look at the numbers and smile. Other times, they would get upset — with themselves, their coach, their teammates or even the statistician. It can be easy for athletes to let the numbers on the scoreboard or in the box score determine their value.

Winning is fun. And when you win, praise and opportunity often follow. It’s the same when you put up big numbers, post fast times or break records. Then, there’s the flip side: A rough performance can lead to even rougher thoughts and comments from outsiders.

But as a Christ follower, God calls you to live and compete differently, chasing after a goal far beyond the scoreboard, the stat sheet and all the everyday perks that come with competitive success. Your motivation should be greater.

Have you ever paused to look at what motivates you? As you think about that, ask yourself these three questions:

WHO do I compete for?

“Take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth." –Ephesians 4:22-24

Are you competing to bring glory to yourself or make your family and friends proud? As a Christian, you have a unique calling to live differently from the world. So, even in competition, your purpose is to glorify God by using the gifts and talents He’s given you.

Because of God, we have hope and future. We have life, now and forever. He is worth competing for.

WHY should I compete?

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me. LORD, your faithful love endures forever; do not abandon the work of your hands.” –Psalm 138:8

As an athlete, God created you with His own hands for a specific purpose in mind.

In every competition, practice, and film or training session, you have an opportunity to glorify God and display the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. By competing in the way He made you, you can become more like Him and show others what it looks and feels like to experience joy and peace by living for something greater than yourself.

And no matter the result on the scoreboard or the stats in the box score, He will not abandon you, because His faithful love endures forever.

HOW should I compete?

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

–1 Corinthians 9:24-27

While the world teaches us to do whatever it takes to win — whether by the rules or not — God holds His people to a different standard.

As an athlete, God calls you to exercise self-control, discipline and integrity. That means competing honestly, humbly and respectfully toward our teammates and opponents.

Winning dishonestly or disrespectfully may look good on the scoreboard, but a perishable wreath (or even a championship ring, new contract or praise from others) isn’t worth damaging your testimony in Christ.

So, seek to honor God in everything you do, not just in your sport, but in your attitude, actions and words. When you do that, God will give you plenty of opportunities to glorify Him and share His love with others.

Is it time for a new motivation?

When you know WHO you are competing for, it will help you understand WHY and HOW you should compete.

So, take a moment to assess why you compete and how competing for Christ can change everything. Are you seeking personal glory through competition, or are you competing to live out your faith and glorify God?

Maybe it’s time for a new motivation — a God-honoring motivation . Perhaps it’s time to take off your former way of life and put on your new self.

Because you are much more than who the box score says you are, and the One who created you for a specific purpose isn’t looking at the scoreboard.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Question: Why do you compete? Why do sports truly matter to you? What does God have to say about the way you compete?

Challenge: Know WHO you are competing for, so you can understand WHY and HOW you should compete.

CTA: Why do you compete? Is it for the wins? The statistics? To give God glory? Take a moment to assess why you compete, and how competing for Christ changes everything. Then, go deeper with Discovery Bible Study: 24/7 DBS

Reset Your Perspective

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:06:36 GMT

Article By Jolani Yeager

Change your way of seeing things by looking through the lens of Jesus.

We’ve all heard the saying, “There is no I in team.” If we’re truly honest, however, there are times we take the field or the court as a coach or athlete, and that ‘I’ tends to become very loud in our minds. We think, “I need to score the next goal,” “I need to be faster,” “I need to win us the game,” “I am the coach, so I have the best strategies,” and on and on. We think it’s all on us to come up with the answer or win. But Philippians 2:3-4 tells us, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

Paul, the author of Philippians, is directing and encouraging us to have a Christ-like perspective when it comes to how we compete. We are to compete with others in mind and play for something greater than ourselves.

Perspective

To compete with others in mind, we must take a look at our perspective on others and on the game. Our perspective can be influenced by various factors: our environment, how we train, our friend groups, how we spend our time, what we watch, etc. One in three people have an eye condition called astigmatism. Astigmatism is a defect in the eye or in a lens caused by a deviation from spherical curvature, which results in distorted images. Just like astigmatism, deviating from God’s Word and purpose for our lives results in a distorted perspective on life, which can impact how we approach competition. A distorted view has an “I” mentality and says:

● I am only valuable as a teammate or coach if I perform well.

● My future is defined by my success right now.

● My identity is defined by my abilities and skills as a coach or athlete.

The good news is astigmatisms can be corrected by a corrective lens, such as glasses or contacts. As believers, we have direct access to God and His Word, which is the corrective lens that resets our perspective.

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” –2 Corinthians 4:18

How to Run the Play and Reset Your Perspective

It’s no secret that in order to run a play as a team, you must know and study that play. The more time we spend learning and practicing the play, the greater the play will be executed. There are many accounts of Jesus spending time with His Father—who guided and directed His life on earth—Jesus was often found praying and recounting God’s Word.

“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and He prayed to God all night.” -Luke 6:12

“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” - Mark 1:35

“So He went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.” - Matthew 26:44

If we want to change our view on how we approach competition and aim to execute the play for something greater than ourselves, we must spend time reading God’s Word and in prayer.

Play for Something Greater

When we play for something greater, we have the ability to play beyond right now. What and how we play today can have a significant effect on our future, our teammates' future, and our communities. Spending time on and off the field in God’s Word will give us the greatest opportunity to have a Christlike mentality and implementation of who we are as competitors. Our perspective and focus are no longer fixed on ourselves but on those around us and an eternal relationship with Christ in Heaven. It’s amazing what a little perspective reset will do.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Question: What is currently distorting your perspective on how you view competing as a coach or athlete? What boundaries or corrective lenses do you need to put in place to be more ‘Christlike’ in these areas?

Challenge: Choose 1-2 players or coaches to pray over this week and ask the Lord how you can serve them. Is it a text message of encouragement, praying with them before a practice or game, or lending a helping hand?

CTA: It’s all about how you look at it. What’s your perspective on competing? Are you playing for yourself, or Someone greater? Maybe it’s time for a new way to approach your play. Learn more about the E3 Discipleship course to walk through God’s Word on your own and with others: E3 Overview Course

Why Coaches Need Rest Days Too

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:00:23 GMT

Article By Shanta Crichlow

FCA Georgia Tech Collegiate Director

A better way to avoid burnout.

Rest is one of those concepts we recognize as beneficial in athletics. Coaches structure off-seasons and incorporate timed rest in workouts and at incremental times throughout the season. However, rest is a performance-enhancing concept that seems only applicable to the athletes on the field and nowhere else, which can include our personal lives.

Sports culture thrives on the idea of going harder, pushing, breaking through your limits to keep going. We applaud it; therefore, it gets repeated and even expected, because, yes, such grit is necessary for competition. Consequently, the attitude of grinding until the wheels fall off becomes a cycle that cannot be escaped even when the competition is over and the stadium lights turn off. This is equally true for the coach. Coaches push hard, cutting into personal family and vacation time. Compromises are made to check out a new recruit or restructure the offense. For some coaches, there are no days off, and this can dangerously lead to burnout.

Jesus offers a better way. He shows us how to approach our sport or career with excellence and heart, yet not be so identified with it that it rules our life and decision-making. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I know the words easy and light may not sound appealing to a coach in sports, but Jesus’ way is essential to your life, well-being, faith, and yes, your career. Coaches need rest because of the sheer demand of the job, and because God demands and modeled it.

From the little leagues to the majors, the role of coach is essential to every team and sport. It’s a highly valuable, demanding, skilled and visible role. Coaches carry a heavy burden, yet coaches are human. And like any other person, it is essential that coaches take time to care for themselves so they can better carry the burdens of life and career.

We’ve been gifted a relationship with God where He invites us to cast our burdens on Him and rest in His grace, love and provision. David writes in Psalm 23 that the Lord lies us down in green pastures, leads us beside the quiet waters and restores our souls. Just reading these words puts the mind at rest, don’t they? God allows us space and freedom to pause from the weariness of life. Sometimes it’s a physical break; sometimes it’s a break from an attitude and way of thinking.

Resting means we can choose not to be anxious and stressed in a worrisome situation. We can, instead, give God permission to work out the uncontrollables and trust Him to do so. In 1 Kings 19 the prophet Elijah was overwhelmed by his work to the point of depression. God met Elijah in that moment, though.

“Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, ‘Get up and eat.’ Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, ‘Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.’ So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.” -1 Kings 19:5b-8

God’s angel acknowledged the journey was too great for Elijah, gave him rest, and cared for and encouraged him. Do you give Jesus the burdens of your life and career? Can you lay at His feet in honesty and transparency and talk about how you’re really doing, allowing Him permission to take care of you?

Our connection to God is essential. He is the one who created the heavens and Earth, and in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). We must take time to rest so we can connect to our life source and maintain that intimate and personal relationship with Him.

Jesus modeled incorporating rest into our rhythms. Whether in the early morning hours or after a long day of ministering, part of Jesus’ rhythm was to go to a quiet place and connect with His Father. This time of connection is like a coaches Huddle, when we get affirmation, direction, instruction and strategy from one another and God’s Word.

When we can cast our cares on God and learn to truly trust Him, we put peace in God into practice and free our souls for what’s important. From our time of connection with the Lord, we can give deeper impact to our teams, our staff and other coaches in our network. Jesus’ way of living is light, and it’s offered to us as a gift. Take it today.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Question: Have you been experiencing burnout? How has it made you feel ? What can you do to deeply rest in Jesus instead?

Challenge: Try getting up a little earlier or carving out time in the evening to read the Bible and hear from God.

CTA: Get God’s Word delivered directly to your inbox each morning with FCA’s Daily Impact Play devotionals: FCA Daily Impact Play

How Do You Handle the Pressure to Keep Up?

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:43:48 GMT

Article By Braden Beck

FCA Eastern Howard County Representative

Step back and get in step with Jesus through stillness.

The bright lights, the roar of the crowd, the thrill of competing on the highest stage with the greatest stakes. Every athlete’s dream, right?

Well, maybe not. Because what if you weren’t made for pressure?

It’s true that few things feel better than balling out on the big stage, but what about the time spent outside the game? Practice, at home, at school, out with friends? If we are facing pressure in all those situations, we are headed down a path of failure. We. Will. Crack. It’s only a matter of time.

Thankfully, Jesus has a greater potential for us than simply living in the pressures of life.

“’You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” –John 8:32

The truth of Jesus is found in His Word, the Bible, and by living the way we see Him living. But Jesus never played sports. He never dealt with the modern problems we deal with. You’ve heard that before, right? Jesus may never have owned a cellphone, but Jesus certainly faced pressure and showed us how we can walk through it.

Get Quiet

Find time to step away from the noise that surrounds you every day. Maybe this looks like getting up 15 minutes earlier in the morning. Or maybe you stay late after practice and just sit on the field. The act of stepping back and quieting our minds for a minute allows space for God to speak into our lives. If we’re honest, we want this neon sign telling us what to do and how to handle situations, but more often than not, God speaks in whispers rather than shouts.

“Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” –John 6:15

Put the phone down. Take the headphones off. Set your gear aside and just spend time away from the noise and the pressures around you. This won’t solve your problems, but it might just give you a better perspective for how to handle them when you return.

Talk with God

As you spend more and more time alone, you might find that, surprisingly, it’s boring. That’s not a bad thing! We usually fill our boredom with games, phones or entertainment. What if instead we satisfied our boredom by speaking with Jesus? Jesus is a real and relational being who died and rose again so He could be in community with you. He deeply cares about the things in your life and the pressures you are facing, and He wants to be part of them.

“’I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.’” –John 17:23

God deeply loves you. Spend time thinking about that as you take time alone. Consider what He has done for you and then just talk to Jesus. Tell Him what's on your mind.

Lean on Others

You can’t spend all your time alone. You need to spend time around people who are also pursuing Jesus. Time in silence is important, and we see Jesus often pull away from the crowds to spend time with God. But He equally spent time with his closest friends over meals, walking between towns and just doing life together.

“Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” –John 13:1

Jesus spent time with His disciples because He loved them and they, in turn, loved Jesus. As believers, we need to have a community around us that we love and that loves us. How different would your life look if your teammates were constantly encouraging each other instead of talking down to one another? Surround yourself with believers who are running after Jesus. This will help you stand tall when the pressures of this world close in around you.

The truth of Jesus is found in the Bible. He died and rose again to offer us eternal life with God. That life starts now. The pressure of this world can be heavy. Jesus offers a better way. He is the truth; all we have to do is follow Him.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Question: What is distracting you the most right now? What can you do to replace the distraction with Jesus instead?

Challenge: If you don’t have a group of people to connect with, take a step to find them: call a local church about small groups or see if there’s an FCA Huddle near you.

CTA: It can all be too much–the demands of coaches, programs, parents and schoolwork. But whose approval truly matters? Visit The FOUR and find out just how much you mean to God: The FOUR

Why Athletes Need Rest Days

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 17:39:10 GMT

Article By Laura Matera

FCA EVP of Action Sports

Being still with God leads to true strength.

Athletes are often pushed to the brink with grueling practices, travel schedules, schoolwork, off-season training and a constant pressure to reach peak performance. They push their bodies during training and competition, which is why rest days to recover are so important. It’s necessary to allow our physical bodies time to rest and replenish.

But did you know that rest is for more than just our physical bodies? Rest is what’s truly needed for the athlete who’s on the brink of mental, emotional and/or spiritual exhaustion.

Jesus extends an invitation to get away with Him, to step back and recognize what’s most important.

The Gospel of Mark shares the words of Jesus as He challenged His physically exhausted followers to shift their ways and try something new:

“… Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” -Mark 6:31a

Jesus begins with the instruction to change locations, to get away to a place without distractions. A quiet, remote place leaves us exposed to God, where we can hear His voice and give Him a greater ability to nurture our heart and mind. Jesus also gives us the command to rest in that space. Rest brings relaxing refreshment and the recovery of our strength.

After time away of true rest, we can come back and be restored to a regular level of activity. Balanced health grants opportunity to not only perform well in all spaces, but it grants greater capacity for relationships with our family, work and sport. As we compete and serve our teams, there is an opportunity to model health in all areas of life.

The word “rest” is part of the word “restore.” To rest means you cease work, relax, refresh yourself and recover strength. To restore means to renew, to re-establish, bring back into use. To be restored, we must enter into rest. There is power in slowing down and trusting God to handle things while you set aside a time to rest.

Are you personally experiencing weariness in body, mind or soul? What is the first step you can take today to step away from the chaos of culture’s fast pace and pursue rest?

Consider planning for the following areas: physical, spiritual, emotional and sensory rest. Explore opportunities for regular rhythms of rest in these areas by setting aside time on your calendar each week and for extended times each season. This time may include enjoying sport without competition, getting outside and exploring nature, reading for pleasure, seeking out time for meaningful relationships or shutting down technology.

After intentional rest, take time to realign your priorities to avoid exhaustion and burnout. Consider your daily schedule and prioritize time to seek God first in the form of Bible reading and prayer.

The Bible encourages “whatever is true...honorable...just...pure...lovely... commendable, if there is any excellence...anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). Direct your thoughts towards God and His goodness. Allow Him to cleanse your mind and receive mental rest. Take a walk. Spend time with your loved ones. Paint something. Or, just spend a few moments with your eyes closed, slowing down your thoughts and thanking God for His provision. Do whatever will calm your spirit and give God a chance to meet you in the middle of a busy day.

God created you not just to recuperate from fatigue, but to enjoy His creation and spend quality time with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Honor the Lord, seek intentional time away just between you and Him, and revive your body, mind and spirit by giving it the deep and lasting rest it needs.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Question: How have you been treating your mind, body and soul? Are they exhausted and in need of rest?

Challenge: Take time to recuperate today. Close your eyes for a few minutes, put on some calming music, take a walk—whatever is going to help you calm your spirit and be still with the Lord.

CTA: Want a deeper look into rest? Sign up to receive FCA devotions delivered to your inbox every day and take time to learn what God wants to speak to you about each day: FCA Daily Impact Play

Hitting Reset as a Coach

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:42:51 GMT

Article By Owen Hughes

FCA Wales Leader

Being still with God leads to true strength.

It was a late October evening, the first game for our American football team and my first game as head coach. As the rain came down and the halftime whistle blew, my mind was going 100mph thinking of anything and everything. Players, coaches and referees began moving toward me to ask questions, give information or share opinions about our situation. As the noise increased and surrounded my senses, the fog of the moment began to take over as I walked to the locker room for halftime, trying to figure out what we needed to do to win this game.

How often does the fog of life come to you? Have you ever played in a game where you felt distracted—thinking of things at home that were irrelevant to the moment, things that threw you off your game and prevented you from competing at your best? As a coach, have you had moments when pressures to win overcame your ability to be present at home with your family?

As life pulls us in different directions, our minds can become clouded and foggy when we don’t take time to reset ourselves into a rhythm that is led by Christ. Resetting enables us to thrive in each part of our lives that God has called us to be present in.

In Exodus 14:14, Moses had led his people out of Egypt and the Israelites begin to flood Moses with complaints as the Egyptian army closes in on them as they arrive at the Red Sea. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Moses decided to be still before God. Then God used him to do a miracle.

Stillness Leads to Strength

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” –Exodus 14:14, NIV

Moses is under intense pressure as the cries of his people grow louder and the army of Egypt is bearing down onto them. He needs God to do a miracle. Boldly, he stands in stillness as he trusts the Lord to fight for him when all seems lost. It can seem strange to be still when it feels like action is needed; however, the Hebrew meaning to “be still” means not inaction, but to actively trust in God and “let go or release” our burdens to Him. This action of trusting God, focusing energy and thoughts to Him alone, allowed Moses to reset and overcome the impossible situation he faced.

How often do we strive in our minds to find a solution, frantically trying to come up with the idea on our own, but as soon as we become still, God gives us the solution when we least expect it? In our stillness, God gives us the strength to overcome our situation.

God is Enough

“Be still and know that I am God.” –Psalm 46:10

As the Israelites fear for their lives, forgetting all God has already done, Moses boldly reminds them that God is enough. Despite the situation, Moses knows God is completely in control and God will save them. When we face challenging times, it can be easy to forget all the times God has come through in our own lives. Being still creates space to remember God is enough and in control. owing who God is gives us a confidence to open our hearts to Him as we understand He will not leave us. Take your exhaustion and fear to Him, let Him know what’s going on, and ask Him to step in and be with you. He will guide you to the truth you need, in the ways you need it.

Rhythms of Silence Lead to Resilience

“’Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’” –Matthew 11:28-30

As life gets busy and the fog overtakes our minds, stillness gives us a reset that, in turn, empowers us to go the distance. Building a rhythm of silence creates intentional space for God to minister to our hearts, and it ensures we go the distance in the call He has placed on our lives. Moses’ story does not end with the parting of the Red Sea, but by leading the Israelites toward the Promised Land. Regularly spending time in silence, he learns of God’s plan for each next step.

Before I stepped into the locker room that halftime, I stepped to the side and found a quiet spot to take two minutes to myself, asking God for the courage to lead our team, to give me the gameplan we needed, and to use my words and actions to glorify Him in that present moment. As the fog cleared my mind, I went on to deliver our team’s strategy, and, most importantly, realized my identity was not in wins or losses, but in who God called me to be in that moment. Our team did go on to win that game, but the lesson of stillness was the most important victory for me that day.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Question: How have you been focusing on the wrong things? How can you take time for stillness before God?

Challenge: Let God still your heart and mind and give you His rest today.

CTA: Your athletes look up to you for guidance in every area of life—are you able to give them what they need? Check out FCA’s 360 Coach course !

How Do You Spend Your 24/7?

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:00:05 GMT

Article By FCA

How to reset your priorities to reshape the way you engage and spend your time in faith and sport.

What’s consuming your time?

What are you always thinking about? For what are you moving your schedule around and sacrificing time with friends and family? Have you lost the ability to see life for what it truly is? We’re consumed by the constantly shifting trends for better health, greater athletic results and even the pride in hustling 24/7, 365 days a year.

It’s a constant grind, and it’s not good.

This is not the life God desires for you. He has so much more in store, if only we’d slow down enough to listen and discern His heartbeat for us.

When you allow God to speak to you through the Holy Spirit and through His Word, you will experience a perspective change and start a journey toward a new kind of 24/7 life.

Stop fighting to keep up with culture’s demands or the never-ending approval vortex. Slow down, take a breath, and be present with the God who created you, who placed you where you live and the team you are on with good and loving intentions.

Let’s reset our perspective from trying to be everything to everyone. It’s overwhelming. And it’s not the life God intends for us. He has a life of hope, joy, peace and abundance, and it’s waiting for us to receive. God’s love compels us to pause and reflect on what’s been missing and how He wants to meet us in the madness.

As we practice finding rest in Him, our spirits switch from frantic to fueled, consumed to content.

But how do we get there? What does this journey look like, moving from overwhelmed to overflowing? How can we realign our lives for another way of living?

“Come to Me,” Jesus whispers, “Come away with me and recover your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

When you take time to be still, it’s not just for physical, mental or emotional rest. As an athlete, reset is a new way of thinking or doing things, which frees you up to be the best athlete, student, friend or family member you can be.

The same is even more important for your spiritual well-being. Do you want to experience true freedom in your heart? Be still and be open to a brand-new perspective on life through the truth found in Jesus.

Here’s how to take a first step toward a reset in your own life:

Be Still

Slow down, be still and know that God is God.

You might find yourself needing a reset, but that’s hard to do if you can’t be still long enough to hear God’s voice. After all, He is the only one who can truly lead you in the right way you should go.

As hard as it may seem, take the time to stop and know that He is God. Recognize that He is in charge and He is the one who can give the perspective change you desperately need.

“Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Be Open

Knowing who God is gives us a confidence to open our hearts to Him as we understand He will not leave us. Take your exhaustion and fear to Him, let Him know what’s going on, and ask Him to step in and be with you. He will guide you to the truth you need, in the ways you need it.

Be open to what God has to say to you. Then, seek wisdom from God’s Word and from Christian believers. This requires humility (admitting you don’t know it all) and patience (realizing you won’t get it all at once).

“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.” – Ephesians 1:17-19

Be Clear

Once you open yourself up to knowing who Jesus is and the Father’s love through Him, you begin a journey toward freedom from performance and an understanding of your identity in Christ.

When you catch the revelation of who Christ is and who you are in Christ, you are free to be whom He created and called you to be. It isn’t about who you are and what you do. It’s about who He is and what He wants to do in you and through you.

“’So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.’” – John 8:36

Be still, be open, be free. Sounds like a recipe for success against the daily grind and a step in the right direction toward a healthier way of knowing and living for Jesus. He is the way to the Father, the way to salvation, everlasting peace and life in full right now.

Take up the training of Christ and switch your mindset to seek after Him 24/7. It will change everything.

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Question: How do you spend your 24/7? What are your priorities in athletics and life? Which do you need to pay attention to: being still, being open or being free?

Challenge: Read Psalm 46:10 and make a list of how God is greater than any pressure to cave to the cultural standards of today.

CTA: Want a deeper look into rest? Start FCA’s YouVersion Bible reading plan on rest that explores the benefits of rest, renewal and honoring the divinely created Sabbath: Start Plan

Reset

sfreymuth@fca.org (Sarah Freymuth) — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 02:07:36 GMT

Reset

“Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” -Psalm 46:10

Life is a 24/7 grind. As an athlete, you’re always moving and there’s not much time to slow down. What if you lost momentum or ground? There’s no way to win in sports or in the game of life when you’ve stopped and everyone else is passing you by.

But sometimes, you might need a do over; time to stop and get a fresh start; time to move in a different direction. Maybe it’s time to be still and recognize the need for a new perspective in Christ.

In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus is preaching to a crowd along the shore when He asks some fishermen if He can speak to the people while sitting in their boat.

One of the fishermen was named Simon Peter. He was stuck in the 24/7 grind of life and needed a reset, but he couldn’t stop moving. He was always working and striving for the next big catch. Peter was in a performance trap, trying to keep up with the world’s expectations. But in this moment, he had no choice but to be still and listen. Peter and his friends were exhausted from hours of unsuccessful work.

After Jesus finished teaching, He told Peter to let out his nets one more time.

“When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink” (vv. 6-7).

Peter fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” (v. 5:8).

But Jesus instead invited Peter and the others to join Him on a journey that would change their lives forever. In that moment, Peter had a reset. He stopped what he was doing long enough to recognize his need for change. In that moment, Peter knew Jesus was the Son of God and his perspective shifted toward truth and freedom.

Like Peter, you might find yourself needing a reset, but that’s hard to do if you can’t be still long enough to hear God’s voice. After all, He is the only one who can truly lead you in the right way you should go through a relationship with His Son Jesus.

When you take time to be still, it’s not just for physical, mental or emotional rest. As an athlete, a reset is a new way of thinking or doing things, which will free you up to be the best athlete, student, friend or family member that you can be.

As hard as it may seem, take the time to stop and know that He is God. Recognize that He is in charge and He is the one who can give the perspective change you desperately need.

Just like Peter, you too can be set on a new path toward truth and freedom from the 24/7 grind if you take time to be still. When you allow God to speak to you through the Holy Spirit and through His Word, you will experience a perspective change and start a journey toward a new kind of 24/7 life.

This is the focus: When Christ resets my perspective, I’m free in Him.

“Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” -Psalm 46:10

Refuel

sfreymuth@fca.org (Sarah Freymuth) — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 02:17:03 GMT

Refuel

“… and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” -Ephesians 3:19

It doesn’t matter if you’re at the beginning of your training or at the end of a big game. The need to refuel your body and mind is a never-ending cycle. The same is true for you as a follower of Christ. You need the spiritual fuel that brings a supernatural joy and hope that will overflow into every aspect of your life.

As Jesus was about to return to Heaven, the disciples also needed an increase in power and strength. They were unsure of how they would be able to fulfill the new purpose Jesus had just given them, but before He left, He promised the help of the Holy Spirit was on the way (Acts 1:8).

Less than two weeks later, the disciples were gathered in a place we now call “The Upper Room” where they were waiting and praying during a Jewish festival known as Pentecost. Found in Acts 2:1-13, an incredible miracle took place:

“Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (vv. 2-4).

The people outside represented many languages, but they could all understand what the disciples were saying. Peter then addressed the crowd with a bold, powerful message (Acts 2:14-41) that served as a testament to this new power from the Holy Spirit working in the lives of the disciples.

After the events of Pentecost, the believers began gathering every day in preparation for the calling that God placed on their lives (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).

Because they studied God’s Word, spent time in prayer and had fellowship together, the early church experienced rapid, substantial growth. Other amazing things also flowed out of their devotion to spiritual training.

As an athlete, you need a playbook or a game plan that will prepare you for competition. Not having clear instruction and guidance will lead to disastrous results.

The Bible is for the follower of Christ. The Bible is God’s sovereign Word, which contains all truth through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and everything you need to live for Him.

Just as you need physical and mental fuel for athletic performance, you need spiritual fuel to walk out God’s purpose for your life. Consistent communication with God draws you near to Him and brings peace and joy to your heart.

Studying God’s Word and spending time in prayer are two important ways you can refuel your spirit daily. Like personal training, you must do some individual hard work, but you’re not always expected to go at it alone. In fact, God has given you a community as another way to stay fueled for your new purpose in Christ.

The spiritual fuel of community was key to the early church’s survival. These believers had no one else to lean on. They were the cornerstones of a new faith and were about to experience persecution from all sides. They had to team up while still working toward the goal of telling the world the Good News of Jesus.

As you refuel in God’s joy and peace through Scripture, prayer and community, you are prepared to meet whatever challenge comes your way with wisdom and strength.

This is the focus: God refuels me with joy and hope that overflow into every aspect of my life.

“… and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” -Ephesians 3:19

Ready

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 02:20:41 GMT

Ready

“And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you.” -1 Thessalonians 3:12

You’ve had a reset. You’ve renewed your purpose. You’ve refueled and trained for this moment. It’s time to make the play and the shot.

That’s why athletes compete—for opportunities to boldly put hard work into practice. You know you’re ready when you have the confidence to give your best and not worry about the outcome.

In the same way, as a believer, you’ve gone through the process of spiritual reset, renewal and refueling. You are now ready to show boldness and share the Gospel with unbelievers. It’s time to make disciples and live out of the overflow of Christ in you.

In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested for healing a man who couldn’t walk and for using the miracle to publicly share their beliefs. Their boldness made a big impact.

“But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” – Acts 4:4

Peter and John were able to be bold because of the new power they had received from the Holy Spirit. They also had the courage to face their opponents because they had fostered accountability and strength through refueling with community.

Things didn’t get any easier for Peter and John. The next day, the religious leaders questioned them and challenged their spiritual authority. Despite threat of further punishment, Peter boldly defended his faith and preached a powerful message.

“When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition.” – Acts 4:13-14

Peter and John were ready to go share because they had spent time refueling with Scripture and prayer.

Like Peter and John, you too can have your own stories of showing boldness and sharing the Gospel. You just have to be willing to obey the Holy Spirit when those moments come.

As you become more ready each day to show your faith and share the Gospel, the Holy Spirit will create in you another aspect of the Christian walk—a desire to serve others, which is a vital way to express God’s love to those closest to you and to those who might be outside your comfort zone.

When you serve others, you are showing God’s love for them and opening the door to sharing the Gospel. The easiest place to start is with those closest to you: your teammates, your friends, your classmates and your family members.

It shouldn’t stop there. In fact, some of the greatest opportunities to serve are with people who are outside your comfort zone. Stretching beyond convenient serving looks different for everyone.

The other side of your serve might be a classmate who’s into academics more than athletics, a teammate whose family is struggling to get by financially, a reclusive neighbor who rarely leaves his or her house, or a classmate who speaks a different language than you.

Sharing God’s love with others is a vital part of your new purpose in Christ. As you use your gifts in this way, you will be ready to leave your overwhelmed life behind and experience the overflowing joy and peace written about in our theme verse:

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

This is the focus: I am ready to go and make disciples out of the overflow of Christ in me.

“And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you.” -1 Thessalonians 3:12