How Athletes Can Shift Focus from Self to the Creator Who Gave Them Their Gifts in Sports?
It’s all over the place: the push to move yourself up the ladder of influence, success and fame. From self-indulgent Instagram posts to pushing a teammate out of the way to end up on top, we can be tempted to try and amass as much glory for ourselves in our sport as possible.
But, even if you reach the heights of success, isn’t something off? Does it feel like something is missing? Could it be that we were never meant to hold the weight of glory? Perhaps, that glory belongs to Someone else.
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Look at who you are. How you have been made in God’s image, fashioned with His hands, your heart beating to His. Every piece of our self has been stitched by a caring God, whose glory far outlasts any worldly praise we could want for ourselves.
“For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.” – Psalm 139:13-16
The way you play basketball effortlessly — that’s a gift given by God. Your ability to lead a team well? Another talent tailored by God. He’s intimately acquainted with every part of us, and if we lean into this wonderful knowledge that we are created in God’s image because He deemed it good, our focus begins to shift off self and onto the glorious One who is God.
If we recognize that we are made in God’s image and that He has given us our abilities, how do we use that knowledge to guide us in our sport?
Stop and Listen to His Voice
Take time during the day to listen to God. Talk to Him, pause, get still, and listen to what He is saying. Read the Bible, meditate on a verse and see how you can incorporate it into your day. Maybe that’s giving a word of encouragement to a struggling teammate or staying late at practice to help clean up. Live out what you’ve learned from God.
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly.” – Psalm 5:3
Seek After His heart
Read about Jesus’ life in the Gospels. How did He interact with the people around Him? What kinds of people did He meet with, pray for and teach? Learn Jesus’ rhythms and see how He would have you take care of your teammates.
“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27
Shift From Self to Others
Serving others brings us joy. God created us to rely on one another. Think about how you can make someone’s day better, instead of just bettering your own. When we live out of the love of God, we want to share that same love with others.
“Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” – Matthew 25:45
God created you with care and wants you to use the talents He has placed in you to pursue His glory. When you do well in a game, give Him praise. When you don’t do well, give Him praise. Remember Whose you are and lean into that identity. Lead a life on and off the field that leads people to the God who is worthy of all praise.
Sarah Freymuth is the Communications Manager for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and writes content for blogs, articles, Bible reading plans and devotionals that share God’s heart with coaches and athletes. She played softball for Concordia University Wisconsin, is in their Hall of Fame, and has led FCA Huddles since high school.
