A few months ago I decided to do something I had never done before. I decided to coach my sons 4th grade basketball team. I wanted to make sure they had an opportunity to play and I thought I could be an influence of positivity in their lives. I decided to have practice on Wednesday nights and then just take all the boys to church with me. I wanted to begin practice with prayer and teach them about how we can always be in the presence of God. I wanted to create a normalcy of prayer in our practices and make it the new normal for these boys. The reason for this was not profound or have any hidden agenda. It was just simply to do what I felt God calling me to do.
The first practice came and it was too uncomfortable for me to do it. Yes, many of you know me, and you are saying, What he chickened out?.....Yes, I did. I had the best laid out plans to do what God called me to do, but when it came down to it, I choked....
I didn't have any reason not to other than the fact that their were several other people there than just us. I was focused on what I needed to teach the boys in order for them to be successful on the court. I was focused on my agenda for the practice, I forgot the main reason I wanted this opportunity in the first place.
The rest of the practices came and went, still no prayer...I guess I thought since I was taking them to church, that was good enough. I was doing half of what God called me to do...just not what He wanted me to do...
God used a nervous 10 year old boy to speak to me before the first game on Saturday. Many of the players really internalize their fears and nervousness. It was our first game and I was scared too. Parker wanted to pray before the game. I heard God loud and clear....
I called my team together under the basket and in front of everyone we all squatted down and prayed for God to take care of our nervousness and calm our fears and to help us do what we had been practicing to do. It was uncomfortable, but you could see the comfort and peace come over the boys and they took the court. I guess the prayer made it to heaven because the boys were amazing out there on the court.
How may times have you done something because you felt God's presence involved?
How many times have you not done something because you go in the way and you felt terrible for not stepping up?
How many more times are we going to let an opportunity to share God's presence with others pass us by?
I sat in Sunday school this morning and listened about how God whispers to us and what our action will be. I thought about this and realized God used my son to whisper to me. I will tell you right now I was as uncomfortable and a cat on a tin roof yesterday as I knelt with the team and prayed. It was uncomfortable but afterwards there was a comfort that was amazing.
It was the presence of God.....LOUD AND CLEAR.....
Challenge:
Take the time to pray with your family tonight. Pray for their week, tomorrow, and just the GOd would put a hedge around them.
It may be uncomfortable, but I promise the next time won't. I am looking forward to next weeks game, not to play, but to pray....
Justin
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