Good Coaches – Guides For Success

Psalm 25:8-9 “Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.”

Nathan and his high school football coaches.

Dear Kids,

Every time Dad and I go to the local gym they are there – the tall, thin man in the warmup suit and the tiny, muscular woman in leggings and sports shirt. Every time, this pair is doing the same thing – he studies a stopwatch while she runs short sprints. He teaches, corrects, and keeps time. She listens and follows his directions. Every time we watch the procedures we experience success in the making – a seasoned coach guiding a willing athlete.

Behind every successful winner there is usually hidden a faithful advocate of victory. Teachers who inspire, coaches who challenge, and family members who support all have a place in helping the achiever to win. We all need them. Today many even hire life coaches to guide them in making life goals and developing a plan to reach them.

When choosing a coach a person must look at the candidate’s qualifications. Just being an enthusiastic person is not enough. The trainer must have sufficient knowledge of the subject matter as well as plentiful personal experience. These, coupled with determination and a desire to help a willing participant, are a winning combination.

Living the Christian life is not an easy task. Just like any sport or worthwhile effort there are many challenges to face. But God does not save us and then leave us to try and make it on our own. God is the perfect and all-sufficient life coach. He is with us each step of the way. He is always good and upright in His approach to our lives. He instructs sinners in the way they should go and leads the humble in justice.

He orchestrates circumstances to help us grow strong in faith. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. He is there every day for every practice and every game. He holds the stopwatch of eternity and times all events of our lives perfectly. He encourages us when we are discouraged and prods us when we are lazy. He has written the perfect manual, the Holy Scriptures, which is profitable for teaching, reproving, correcting, and training in righteousness. If we listen to all He says and obey with determination, we are guaranteed to be adequate and equipped for whatever life throws at us.

Every day the coach and his protege are at the gym training. They hardly miss a practice as they strain towards the prize of finishing strong. We too must have that same determination. We have the best life coach we could ever have – a heavenly Father who loves us and who has provided everything we need for life and godliness. So get yourself to the gym! It’s time, with God’s help, to win the game of life!

Love,

Mama