Elite Athletes Encounter GodSample

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Georg Sieder (Austria)
Champion Freeride Battle in Mt. Kanin (Big Mountain Skiing)

Sports has always played a major role in my family. Already as kids, my brother Mario and I were guided by our father to participate in ski races. Soon we discovered the joy in sports and competing. We couldn’t imagine a life without sports. But there was something else that fascinated me in my teenage years - God. I loved my class about religion, and in the Ski main school in Schladming I sporadically started reading my Bible. I was always drawn to people who evidently lived a life as a believer. Apart from skiing I started racing in a mountain bike downhill race, and I made it to the World Cup. I remembered that even then, I prayed before every race (although I didn’t know to whom and why). Over the years, my path crossed with different Christians, and I let friends invite me to a bible study group. That is where I learned that the answer to my deepest desire is having a personal relationship with Jesus. Now I have been on a journey with Him for several years and I am extremely thankful for that. 

However, I must admit that it’s not always easy to live with Jesus in my everyday life. On one hand, I know what He would like from me, and that He has the best intentions for me, but I still sometimes choose another path. I struggle to testify about my faith in Jesus, or I simply forget that I am a child of God. That is why I am even more thankful that He is faithful even when I am not. I wish for every person to experience this unique relationship with God. 

This is a verse about God’s faithfulness that means a lot to me. It is from 2nd Timothy 2:13 - “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown himself.” 

Action Step

God also wants to encounter YOU. Invite the Holy Spirit to read the bible passage with you and expect that he will speak to you. Trust that God will show you the steps you should take in your own life. Ask Him for strength and courage to follow his voice.