God's Coaching #94

God's Coaching #94

Before the biggest game of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) season, Washington Stealth star Lewis Ratcliff got away from everything so he could prepare himself. Lewis had scored 46 goals during the regular season, but he hadn’t tallied a single goal in the play-offs. He knew his team needed a big performance from him if the Stealth hoped to defeat the five-time NLL champion Toronto Rock.

Lewis took a week off from his job in Canada to go to Everett, Washington, and focus on the game. For four days before the 2010 championship, Lewis practiced his shooting and thought about what he needed to do.

All that preparation paid off as Lewis scored 59 seconds into the game to give the Stealth a 1–0 lead. Lewis tallied again two minutes later. But the Rock didn’t win five Champion’s Cups by lying down. Toronto built a 10–6 lead late in the third quarter. However, Washington answered with a 9–1 flurry to win the game 15–11. Lewis ended the contest with five goals and was awarded the Most Valuable Player trophy.

What’s the Score?

Lewis knew he had a big challenge ahead, so he took time to prepare himself. In the Bible, Jesus knew he faced the greatest challenge in human history. The night before he took on every human’s sin and was nailed to a cross, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane. He wanted to be alone to pray. Jesus knew he needed to prepare himself to do God’s will. He understood that he needed the power that comes through prayer to accomplish his purpose for coming to earth.

It wasn’t easy for Jesus to die for our sins. He felt pain. He cried. But he also said, “I want your will to be done, not mine” (Mark 14:36). By getting away and preparing himself in Gethsemane, Jesus achieved the greatest feat of all time—he paid the price for our sins. Whether you’ve already celebrated Easter or are about to, remember to praise and thank Jesus for his amazing sacrifice!

On the Ball

Is there something coming up in your life that you need to prepare for? Maybe it’s a test, tryouts for a sport, or a musical performance. Make sure to take time to get alone so you can focus and prepare yourself to do your best.

Coach’s Comment

They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” Mark 14:32