“And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever,
for their own good and for the good of all their descendants.”
– Jeremiah 32:39

It had been a demanding practice! Stamina and desire were being tested for both athletes and coaches. During a much deserved and much needed water break, I found myself standing next to one of our most talented athletes. This athlete had been challenged repeatedly to push through complacency and the willingness to settle for less than their best effort. When told they could be better, you knew they understood they were already the best athlete on the field. With more than a little frustration, the words exploded from my mouth and my heart, “How do you want to be coached?” What I wanted to know was did she want to reach her full potential? Was she willing to work for it; was she willing to pay the price? It wasn’t personal, I liked her, I believed in her, but I knew she was capable of so much more.

Rethinking this story, I can almost hear God asking each of us the same question. “How do you want to be coached?” God made each of us in a unique way. We have God-given gifts and talents that all too often are not used to their full potential. We settle for less than our best effort. We compare ourselves to others and are convinced that our efforts are better than most. I can almost feel God’s hurt and frustration as He says, “I created you for so much more!” God doesn’t want us to settle for anything, He wants our best! He wants us to have and to enjoy the best that life has to offer. To do that, we must trust Him and obey His commands. Yes, it can be hard, but the rewards are beyond anything we can imagine.

Heavenly Father, coach me up today. Give me a heart of obedience and an unwavering trust in Your promises. Amen.