“Down!” The coach screams to his player rounding third. He’ll need to slide into home to score the run. The coach sees what the player can’t as the player runs as fast as he can. He heeds the coach’s call and slides. Safe! The run scores and the crowd erupts.
Wouldn’t it be great if God gave out directions to us like that? Just before a big decision or in the midst of a problem, God could call, “do this“ or “choose that path“. It usually doesn’t happen this way, but our lives are more like a baseball game than we realize.
When a coach is calling directions, it’s because of his experience and ability to see the whole game. The player is wise to heed the call. But sometimes the player chooses to do his/her own thing or even ignore the coach’s direction. The results usually aren’t as successful or productive.
God, our ultimate Coach, sees all. Not just this game, problem or day, He knows everything about everything. Amazingly, He allows us to glimpse into His playbook via His Word. The Bible is chock full of wisdom if only we choose to seek and apply it to our lives. No, it doesn’t come audibly just as we’re rounding third, but it’s there.
Currently, I’m sliding a bit this summer too. I’m not playing baseball, but sliding in some of my wellness choices. A different summer schedule and upcoming commitments have shifted some of my priorities. Vacations, additions to the schedule and the relaxed nature of summer make sticking to healthy patterns more difficult.
I need to refocus on my wellness, just as we did with the Spring into Wellness Challenge. But with continued summer plans, I’ll need some direction. So, I’m listening to my Coach to gain insight from His Word. My emails lately have been chock full of wisdom nuggets from my daily Bible verses. They have literally spoken just the right word for each day. It’s like God’s voice to me as I round third. Snippets of wisdom like this are just the beginning, however.
Real direction from a coach comes with time and practice. Daily Bible reading and digging into a Bible study for extra direction is a great way to get in depth coaching. When we create a pattern of reading, listening and applying His Word to our daily lives, we begin to live what we learn. When He was tempted, Jesus replied to the devil:
“No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ~Matthew 4:4 (NLT)
Our Coach, God, wants to give us direction. If we are wise, we’d heed His call. We live not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God.
In His word, I find insight for right living and daily direction. When I renew my mind by digging into the Bible, I find new strength and perseverance to reset my priorities toward my own wellness.[tweetthis]In His Word, I find insight, renewal & strength to direct my life[/tweetthis]
Will God yell at me at just the right moment to make sure I do the right thing? Maybe not, but when I make connecting with Him a priority, those choices become ingrained in my thoughts and behaviors. So, as I head to the busiest part of summer yet, I’m trying to heed the call from my Coach for His wisdom and guidance.
Anything you might be sliding on lately? What are one or two ways you can you get back on track by listening to God? Feel free to comment here or share on Facebook or Twitter with me for some additional encouragement. Here’s to heeding the call from our Coach!
Linking up with Susan Mead at #DanceWithJesus, Dawn Klinge at #GraceandTruth , Holly Barrett at #TestimonyTuesday, Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeart, Kelly Smith at #FridayFive and Crystal Twaddell at #FreshMarketFriday
I’m a sucker for baseball analogies! Love it! Thanks for this invitation to get my head back in the game! 🙂
Thanks Liz-me too, baseball analogies are so applicable! You’re welcome, we all need this inspiration!
Jill, love your Coach! And the way you apply real life to the Word of God. Thank you! Neighbor at Grace and Truth this morning.
Thanks Susan and thanks for all you do for us to link up with you at #DanceWithJesus too! Love to see God in all things-thanks for stopping by!
I love the way you applied a real life baseball game to the living word and God, our coach. This is fantastic. I’m sliding by being too consumed with social media. I need to focus on Him and my writing so that I can be more productive. I’m on a little hiatus from FB right now. It’s helping more than I thought even if it’s only been a few days. I only log in to our COMPEL groups, otherwise, I stay off off off my feed. xoxo
Thanks for the reminder. God’s got this!
#fmfparty
Absolutely God’s got this! Thanks my friend! I hear you re: social media. It’s a necessary evil some would say, but certainly one we can tame and use according to how our Coach may want us to! Thanks again!
I am absolutely sliding this summer! I am sitting in a big chair overlooking the lake right now. This is a vacation weekend and all my resolve for healthy choices are fading fast! Thanks for the pep talk to keep my head in the game!
Love to slide by a lake-one of my favorite places! Glad to be of help to remind us all about choosing wellness! Thanks for visiting Kelly and enjoy the lake!
This is so wise! I appreciate this encouragement for Christians to heed God’s call in our lives. Thank you for sharing it with us at Grace & Truth! I’m pleased to feature this post at A Divine Encounter on Friday. 🙂
Hi Jennifer-Thank you for your thoughts and featuring it on Friday! We all need to heed the call from Our Heavenly Coach daily. Glad I could encourage you. Thanks again for the feature and for allowing us all to share our words at Grace & Truth!
Love this analogy and the wise encouragement to heed the call of our Coach! Blessings!
Thanks Joanne-I pray we all will heed His call on our lives today! Thanks for stopping by and your thoughts.
Great illustration. Yes- the Lord has been so clear with my husband and I lately in giving direction, which we are very thankful for! Most times, it’s like you said. What a precious gift that our coach is perfect, has the ultimate win secured, and is always there for us to listen to. I love that He is giving you the perfect verses at the perfect time. He is so kind to us!!
Thanks Bethany for your thoughts-love your thought about the “ultimate win” being secured. I love when God speaks to us and we actually pay attention enough to listen. I’m so glad you and your husband are clearly hearing His direction in your life! Thanks for stopping by and your encouraging words!
Great analogy- it sums up the fact that we need to put time and effort in to commit to regular training (reading the Bible and praying) but also to be listening for the coach’s voice in the moment and being willing to obey. I often need to remind myself that while my view is limited, God sees the whole picture.
Thanks Carly, it is about remembering God sees and knows the whole picture. Thanks for your thoughts and stopping by today!
Hey Neighbor! I love the picture you’ve painted as God as Coach. And that He is … prompting us, calling the shots, giving us direction and encouragement.
This has been so helpful this morning. So good to run into you at Holley’s …
Thanks Linda for your thoughts and encouragement to me today! Glad you could stop by for some Coffee for your heart!