I never was a big fan of soccer,
at least until recent years when grandson, Reagan, started playing. He is quite the soccer player now at age 10,
and eats, sleeps, and probably dreams soccer. His interest and participation in
soccer is probably what caused me to keep reading when I noticed that a blogger
which I follow had a soccer-related article recently.
Daniel Harkavy writes a blog that
often deals with leadership, and is a speaker in leadership conferences for
business, churches, civic groups, and just about any group that requires
information and training in leadership.
Recently he spoke of visiting with the man sitting next to him on a
flight, and learning the man was Linus Rhode, head coach of the Oregon State
Beavers, women's soccer team. Their
visit included talks about their families, careers, hobbies and interests and
regular chit-chat. Then Harkavy had to
ask, "What makes for a successful team?" Here is Rhode's answer:
“Belief, it starts with you as the
coach. You have to believe your team can win and, more importantly, all players
on your team must know that you believe in them. Players have to know that
you, as commander in chief, have a belief in them that they can get the job
done. If they trust that you believe in them, they will be willing to extend
their comfort levels to accomplish greater results. Then, they take ownership
of the outcomes. Your job as the coach, then, is to guide them lightly and
keep them in their lanes. You work to keep them focused on their roles and ultimately,
the team goal.”
While reading, I could see the
wheels turning in Harkavy's head, and I immediately knew the coach's reply
would be quoted even more than just in his blog writings, but also in his
leadership conferences.
I want you read the quote,
perhaps several times, and see what comes to your mind as a disciple of Jesus.
I like the picture I see, of God, the
coach who believes in me. I often wonder why, because of my sins and blunders
and wrong decisions, but God does believe in me. For the proof of that, I only
need to look at the cross. Or perhaps I need to be reminded that God lives in
me in the form of His Spirit. Yes, God
believes in me and believes I can win.
Follow me throughout the above quote, which will cause us to ask some
questions of ourselves. Do we, as a team
of God's people, know and trust he believes in us? The coach says, "If they trust that you believe in them, they will be willing to
extend their comfort levels to accomplish greater results." What a powerful spiritual application! That says to me, with God in control and
believing I can get the job done, I am empowered to achieve greater things, and
work for him in areas I previously avoided because of the fear of failure. He has promised to be with us and never leave
us. He is guiding us and "keeping
us in our lanes." He is there to
keep us "focused on our roles and ultimately, the team goal."
This analogy brings us pictures
of God that we would rarely consider. We call him a loving God and a providing
God without considering he is the God who is faithful.....believing in us and
guiding us to victory. Our problems and difficult times are things he is
concerned with, but he knows we can win. He leads us in victory over our unkind
words, our impure thoughts and even our spiritual laziness. He is the Coach and His Word is our playbook.
The victory is ours. All glory is his.
Praise him for believing in you.
<ronbwriting@yahoo.com>
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