“For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 In the world of sport, each new season brings excitement and hope.

“Your reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.” – Psalm 16:11 Can you remember the most joyful celebration you have ever witnessed? Maybe it was celebrating a State Championship or an unexpected win over a superior opponent. It could have been witnessing one of your athletes accomplish a feat that they, and maybe you too, thought was impossible.

“….love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, keep His commands, remain faithful to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.” – Joshua 22:5 How many times do we see athletes who have all the physical tools fail to live up to their potential? Why do athletes with everything going for them so often miss the mark, while those with limited ability bring home the prize? What’s the missing ingredient?

“There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty.” – Proverbs 14:23 What does it take to be great? Is there one secret that allowed Ted Williams to become baseball’s greatest hitter? What was it that allowed Hank Aaron to be the most consistent home run hitter of his era?

“….let us strip off every weight that slows us down…. and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." – Hebrews 12:1-2 The forecast for Friday night’s game is RAIN!

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” – 1 Peter 5:6   Everyone has a certain amount of ego, but we must be able to keep it under control. Ego is feeling confident and important, knowing we can do the job. But, if we start feeling that we’re too important, or that we can do the job without real effort and hard work, that’s arrogance.

“Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize —but who are you?” Acts 19:15 Who are you? Think about that question a moment. Do you really know who you are?

(Dedicated to my sister Elizabeth and the legacy she leaves behind. Her love of Jesus Christ impacted everyone she met.) “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 Kay Yow, legendary women’s basketball coach at North Carolina State, left a legacy! When we add up the victories and accomplishments of her coaching career, it is indeed impressive.

David had just said, “I guarded everything that belonged to this man (Nabal) in the wilderness for nothing. He was not missing anything, yet he paid me back evil for good. May God punish me, and even more if I let any of his men survive until morning.” – 1 Samuel 25:21-22 What causes you to be angry?

  As coaches, we know that physical growth demands physical exercise. We must also understand that spiritual growth as a follower of Christ requires spiritual exercise. Here are four daily exercises to help us build spiritual muscle.

“When Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, ‘Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?’ He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do.” – John 6:5-6 Being tested is a by-product of participating in sports. If we coach, we will be tested. Our opponent may look unbeatable on tape, a rash of injuries may not allow us to field our best team, or we could be questioning our own ability to lead.

“When a king’s face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.” – Proverbs 16:15 Legendary coach Vince Lombardi once said, “the strength of the group is the strength of the leader.” By the very nature of being called “Coach”, we find ourselves in a position of leadership. Leaders must be able to make tough decisions and be prepared to sacrifice popularity for results. Doing the right thing is not always the easy thing.