Cultivating Christian Minds and Character
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Fall Season
Dr. Sefrit sends our Final Four Volleyball Team off to State with a Prayer and Inspiring Devotion
Jeremiah 9:23-24 states; This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.
As you play volleyball, are you remembering who your audience is? I encourage you, as you step onto that championship court with your teammates this weekend, to play together against your opponent as though Jesus Christ is your only audience. We play our BEST when the thought of Jesus being the only one who matters is watching our performance.
Sometimes, however, fear and/or pride cause us to think that we must be the star, we perform for the people in the stands, or we play for our own glory. This kind of focus and motivation can keep you going strong, so long as you succeed. But it's not so good for dealing with failures or forces beyond our control.
To some people, we are often only as good as our last performance. For some, it's "what have you done for us lately?" The pressure is relentless from fans, and there are sometimes tremendous expectations from family and friends. At times, there is even relentless pressure from inside us.
But God is concerned only that we did our BEST. And He is bigger than all the rest combined.
As athletes, and as young women, I encourage you to realize and to remember that God has the only opinion of you that really matters. Above all, know who you are living for, know who you are playing for, and know your audience!
Seeing Jesus as your audience will shift the pressure off yourself. Play your BEST because you desire to bring glory to God. No matter the score of the game, God will still be with us - He will never forsake or leave us - win or lose what matter is that He will still be our focus!
Everything I read about Jesus in the Bible indicates that everything He did was about EXCELLENCE, PRECISION (the right timing), BEING STEADFAST and STRONG (after all, he was a carpenter working with heavy wood and sawing, hammering, lifting). He worked with others, He prepared and worked hard, He carried out His mission without wavering, He glorified His father, and His message to us is to do the same by His grace and Spirit -- to be our BEST!
To be our BEST is to be as good as we can be and always (in a healthy way) look to improve and get even better as whatever we do. This honors God as we give back to his glory all of the skills and talents He has given us. While Jesus is your audience, the girls next to you are counting on you to do your BEST. They're counting on you to keep your focus, to be strong, to never quit no matter what, to be precise in timing that block - that set - in making or digging that serve. Just as a body has many parts, so as a team you all must work together to succeed!
Can't you imagine what Jesus' view is as He watches your games this weekend - He's watching each of you, and He's watching you as a TEAM - working with precision together, depending on each other, doing your BEST from the start to the end of each play, from the start to the end of each play, from the start to the end of each "run," from the start to the end of each game, and from the start to the end of each match!
I Corinthians 10:31 - 11:1; So whether you eat or dring or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God - even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Here are a few biblically based principles that you might remember and take with you into your State Tournament games, and for the rest of your life.
Do the most you can with what you have, and you will be blessed with more to do still more! The Bible shows us that when we give money, we receive more money to bless even more people – when we work on our studies, we get smarter in order to study even more advanced ideas – when we lift weights correctly, we get stronger – when we practice effectively and play with precision as a team, we become a better team -- we get better in order to rise to a new and higher level!
You may not know when success is in the next play, the next set, the next block or the next kill! Keep trying and then keep on trying. That’s the number one formula for winning.
Salesmen sell, writers write, workers work, painters paint, composers compose – Do what you say you want to do, be what you claim to be -- Remember, WINNERS WIN – no matter the score of the game!
Most people wish they could be the best; few are willing to work hard enough to become their best. WINNERS WORK HARD AND PREPARE! BE A WINNER!
As athletes we long remember those wonderful, often difficult, sometimes insufferably long practices and games with some of our closest friends, playing and enjoying the game we love. You will never have the chance to relive these next few days. These days will be remembered as some of the happiest of your lives. I can tell you that I very clearly remember specific plays, some losses, many wins, and numerous teammates from more than 40 years ago.
Ladies, you’ll go on to do other things in the months and years ahead, but these memories together will last a lifetime!
God’s blessings on each of you!
You are loved!
We will be at State cheering you on!
Have fun together!!!
Last modified: 11/02/2007 05:58 am