Leadership - Coach’s Call
Be ready today. For it’s a great day for hockey, and a great day to build for Jesus.
Don’t expect God to give you the full picture. He’s no micro manager. Yes, God is precise and exacting, but always through faith and discipline and initiative.
When God prompts you to go, whether it be to a work meeting or across the country, one of the devil’s tools is fear. Expect it for yourself and your teammates. But press on, for God is way more, way more creative and powerful and capable to overcome any obstacle to our obedience. Fear included.
And when you are on mission from the Holy Spirit, and that ought to be today and every day, expect other discerning followers of Christ to sense it. We know when genuine obedience and Holy Spirit blessing are given. We see it. We feel it. We’ve prayed for it. People know. The guys in the dressing room know. They can sense you 'in the zone.'
I liked it when our coach of the Spokane Chiefs (Brian Maxwell) used to say, "someone's gotta stop the bleeding." I thought that was a great saying. Get out there and change the tone, shift the momentum, turn the tide, do something!
It's amazing what a spark of determination can do. But don't expect everyone to come alongside you straight away. Many fear the uncertainty when it arrives from those who ‘rock the boat.’ Prepare your linemates for the shift ahead. Be prepared to speak plainly and confidently, for the inside opposition to God’s way of unity and holiness can be more fierce than that from the non-believers.
To those of little faith, speak the truth in love, always go back to the truth of Scripture, the redeeming love of God, and the powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ that sets us free to build for God. Scripture has a refining ability to change minds and hearts.
And continue to trust God. Don’t think you are better than you are. And don’t trust appearances, dynasty, or pedigree. God cares nothing for worldly assessments. He can use whoever He so chooses, and He often uses the weak to shame the strong, the poor to prove His goodness and rich love. God looks at the heart. So too shall we.
Expect big things from our loving God. He ain’t done yet. Not even close. Keep praying. Keep encouraging. Keep going. Patiently work today. For God is working alongside us and ahead of us. God will speak and act and appoint and move, all at just the right time and with men well prepared in character and ability to do His work.
Lord God, thank You for this life. Thank You for how you appointed Samuel and how he obediently listened and obeyed. Please help us to do the same. We know You are moving. We pray for Your blessing. Living God, please come upon us powerfully and completely and miraculously build through us today - and through our friends. Amen.
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