Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, let’s parallel how a team’s success depends on their players trust .

Today’s scripture, Proverbs 3:5-8 (NLT) advises…
[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. [7] Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. [8] Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

Consider…
There are times when we want to play our role for God, but lack confidence or are uncertain what we should do. Today I had one of my moments of uncertainty in what to write for this blog. But God!!! I listened to my friend Mary’s Audacity Presents podcast, and was inspired to parallel the importance of players trusting the team’s leadership.

There are times when a coach will ask a player to do something that seems nonsensical. The reason it doesn’t make sense is because the player is focused on here and now, whereas the coach is locked in on when and then. For example, a coach has scouted the competition and wants to prepare the player to recognize and counteract the opponent’s strategies and tactics.

This reminds me of what the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write in Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT). He wrote…
[10] A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. [12] For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

God is coaching us to develop our strength dependence on Him, so that we can stand with Him against the spiritual forces waging battle against us. Now from a human perspective, standing rather than fighting back makes no sense, but from God’s perspective it makes total sense. That’s because He tells us the same thing as He told the people in 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NLT)…
[15] He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

God doesn’t need or want us to fight our battles, He wants us to trust Him to win them.

That’s why in Matthew 5:38-39 (NLT)
Jesus said…
[38] “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ [39] But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

Again, offering the other cheek makes no sense. That is until you read Romans 12:19-21 (NLT), which says…
[19] Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. [20] Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” [21] Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

God is saying you just keep doing the right things I’ve told you to do and trust me to make everything right.

This reminds me of coaches who tell their players, let me handle the referees, just do what you’ve been coached to do.

As I wrote that, my mind went to NBA Superstar Dennis Rodman who was notorious for getting under the other team’s star player’s skin. His strategy is if we both get ejected from the game, my team wins. That’s very similar to what Satan tries to do with us. Which is why the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT), that says…
[26] And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Instead we should follow the coaching from James 4:7 (NLT), which says…
[7] So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Notice we’re told to…

• First, Humble ourselves before God. Humbling is surrendering control to Him.
• Then, resist the Devil. We are able to resist because God’s strength empowers us to stand firm.
• And the scripture says, the devil will flee.

This reminds me of how Jesus stood firm on God’s word, when He was tempted by the devil, and after the third temptation, the Bible says the devil left Him alone. That tells me, when we are tempted to retaliate, the Holy Spirit is coaching us to meditate and regurgitate what God said.

Trust the coach also reminds me of Jesus’ nevertheless not my will but thy will be done. Dying an unjust, excruciating death makes no sense, until you fast forward to God raising Jesus from the dead with all power and the knock out victory over sin and death.

You see the Holy Spirit is emphasizing the importance of trusting God in here and now, because He’s preparing us to win in the when and then.

Trust is crucial for team, and player, success. This is even more true with us and God. The more we trust Him, the more He will trust us to do for Him.

Here’s an acronym to remember when doubt creeps into your mind…

Totally
Relinquish the need to
Understand to the
Sovereign God who alone is
Trustworthy

Trust God’s coaching, because His will is what’s best for you.

Today’s Song is…
Your Will

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)