PLAYBOOK DEVOTIONAL
Athlete, Be Your Best
Jonathan Van Horn
Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Every athlete’s dream is to be the best. But the reality of that dream is only one person at a time can fill the role of being the best in that sport. Out of the thousands, or even millions of athletes competing in your sport, it truly is an amazing feat to be considered the best!
I have a question for you … what if your focus wasn’t to be the best, but to be your best? How would that subtle shift in your mentality affect your game, training and mindset?
To be your best is the idea that you maximize what you have been given (talent), leverage your experience (story), and are focused with your actions (work ethic).
The Psalmist wrote: “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16).
No two athletes are the same; we each have our own unique talents, experiences and character. God has intentionally formed you with abilities, gifts, and in this moment, to be you.
A quote often attributed to Oscar Wilde says, “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” The reality is I can’t be you and you can’t be me. So rather than put forth effort to be someone else, make every stride and pursuit to be your best self.
The Father created you uniquely – fearfully and wonderfully made; with intention and purpose. Not to be someone else, but to be you. The Lord knows your days, He knows your frame (talents), He formed you and wove you together!
Paul reiterates this point in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Today, my prayer for you, athlete, is that you go out, not pretending to be someone else, but be your best you – be who God has created YOU to be!
Reflect: What does is look like for you to live and compete as you, your best true self?
