Overwhelmed to OverflowingSample

Playing with Purpose

READY:

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

SET:

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

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?

Alone Time

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

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.

Service

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 hearts with joy. Acts of service are God’s way of ministering to those around us because they are countercultural to the generally accepted athlete’s act of self-promotion.

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

GO:

1. What is your purpose for competing? What does God say about that purpose?
2. How can you honor God in the way you honor others?
3. Memorize Ephesians 4:22-24 and let it rule your heart and mind as you compete.

WORKOUT:

Proverbs 4:23

1 Peter 2:17, 4:10

OVERTIME:

“Lord God, thank You that You have designed me to compete. Thank You for the joy I experience as I run, practice, coach, and play for You. Help me to see my teammates and coaches as made in Your image, and to find ways to encourage them so they see You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”