In sports today, the training aspect has become an important part of the journey to success. Establishing a good plan, working hard at it, and succeeding it is a smart way to achieve the goals you have set out for yourself. One thing that gets confused with training today, is that it isn’t the only component needed to succeed. In all sports, but especially basketball, experience from actually playing vs training helps out a player a lot. It allows them to make live decisions on things they practice.
Growing up in my playing career I gave more of my success to playing and having to figure stuff out on the fly. I also think training and individually working on your game is a positive. I am a believer that you need a healthy dose of both to maximize your potential.
In our lives, God doesn't just want soul management, He wants soul transformation. Transformation comes from the expansion of the spirit. As a believer in Christ, God implants a new spirit inside of you. In order for you to get to the point of transformation, you must first develop your spirit. So the question comes, How do you develop the new spirit Christ has given you? The answer is to live a lifestyle consistent with the character of God. But also understand we are human, so not perfect but consistent.
In life’s journey, our focus should be to become as much like God as possible. This requires:
Disciplining yourself
Developing your soul
Actually doing something vs just intending to do it
Align with whatever God says about an issue, not the world
It is important for us to know the truth that God has set. It is also important for us to abide in the truth. A lot like my training vs live play example from earlier, it is important to have both to live out what God wants you to be.
Social media is blowing up a heartfelt message NBA player Bradley Beal gave to his AAU team. Brad is arguably one of the top scorers in today’s game, so he knows the commitment, grind and skill it takes to make it at the highest level. For me, the most powerful thing he said to these teenagers was that God can give you a gift and talent but if you don't work on it and develop it, and use it the right way then God can take it away and it can be a waste.
No matter small or large, everything good comes from God. It is to be received with thanksgiving. So, in our pursuit we must acknowledge that there are decisions and choices we have to make. God’s way vs the world's way. Focus on the right path to Godliness and strive to be more and more like God each and every day. Also, the good thing about God is, He is loving, so He is always waiting for you when you make the decision to pursue the right path.
