ONE: FCA Reading Plan For CompetitorsSample

When the Crowd Isn’t Cheering Your Name

By Adrienne Sherwood

READY:

“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.” – Proverbs 3:3

SET:

Immediately after college I began working for FCA in Atlanta. The leadership there was very encouraging and supported me in following God’s call to start an inner-city soccer league. It has been one of the most rewarding and challenging things God has ever asked me to do! It felt like there was great interest among others to see if God could really use a knucklehead like me to start something great. And wouldn’t you know it, after three years, we had a real soccer league. We were in four different neighborhoods, and youth were coming to Christ through the ministry.

Soon thereafter the excitement of this new thing had worn off to me. I had a hard time continuing to be disciplined in the work because I wanted to start the ministry and then let someone else maintain it. Author Lysa Terkeurst says, “Feelings are indicators, not dictators. They can indicate where your heart is in the moment, but that doesn’t mean they have the right to dictate your behavior and boss you around.” 

When emotions are high and everyone’s watching, it’s easy to work hard. But what happens when you win the championship or earn the MVP and yet it’s still time to work hard? Or maybe the time has passed for you to win that championship, but it’s still your responsibility to be faithful. Ultimately, we should work faithfully to please the Father, not those around us. And that’s a calling that will never stop. 

GO:

1. How does your athletic performance change depending on your emotions?

2. Do you find yourself seeking the approval of others more than God’s?

3. Share a time when you really wanted to quit but stayed faithful.

WORKOUT:

Galatians 6:9

Galatians 1:10

Colossians 3:17

OVERTIME:

“Lord, help me not let my emotions control my work ethic. Help me want Your approval more than the praise of others.”