Peace in Your Worldनमूना

Reading the Bible

At 3 years old, Brad Minns lost his hearing due to a high fever. But instead of letting that hold him back, he went on to become the number-one tennis player in the U.S., helping the nation win its first-ever Dresse Cup in 1995 (not to mention winning some impressive bodybuilding competitions). Nowadays, Brad works as a tennis coach, helping others achieve their dreams and pointing them to Jesus.

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Nothing replaces reading the Bible every morning. God’s Word is our spiritual nourishment. Without it, I get spiritually weak. Shortly before I came to Christ, I won a bodybuilding championship now known as “Body for Life.” To win this competition, I had to gain 21 pounds of muscle mass in 10 weeks. That meant weight training three days a week, high-intensity cardio three days a week, and six small meals daily.

My goals were clear and simple: reach 191 pounds, win a Corvette and $50,000, and meet Arnold Schwarzenegger! I did everything by the book and achieved these goals. Now, if I had missed a meal, protein shake, or a supplement, then I wouldn’t have reached 191 pounds in 10 weeks. Missing meals, skipping workouts, and losing sight of the prize cause physical weakness.

After I won all these great prizes 10 weeks later, I was feeling physically stronger than ever. However, I discovered I was spiritually bankrupt. It was then that I began training a Christian man who wore Scriptures on the back of his shirt. Eventually, I invited Jesus into my heart and applied the same daily disciplines toward my spiritual training, which is far more valuable. The spiritual nourishment from reading God’s Word, the Bible, every day gives me the strength needed to accomplish all the work that God requires of me.

—Brad Minns, tennis professional and trainer, as told to Rapt Interviews

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