I love basketball and I’m starting to love football more and more every year. Recently, I realized that there’s one universal principle that applies to every sport.
No one likes to sit on the bench.
I played basketball when I was growing up. In middle school, I was one of the starting five. Pretty cool. I always knew I would be in the game. But my confidence took a blow the summer before I started high school.
Suddenly, I had to try out for the team. For most of the try-outs and scrimmages, I had to sit on the bench. Not a good feeling. When you’re on the bench you feel powerless. There you are, watching a game. Steps away from the excitement and action. Yet, there’s nothing you can do but sit there and wait on your turn. Hope that your name will be called soon.
It’s frustrating. You know you can make a difference. You know you have something to add to the team. That you’ve too worked hard to acquire the skills you have just to sit on a stupid bench. Kinda like life, huh?
Patience is a must in this game of life. Sacrifice and reward can sometimes be distant relatives. Maybe you have been in the game for awhile and suddenly, you’re called out to sit on the sidelines. Maybe you’ve been sitting for some time now. Waiting on that prayer to be answered. Waiting on those words, “You’re hired.”
Be encouraged. Good things really do come to those who wait. And sitting on the bench doesn’t mean you’re any less qualified or deserving. It means you just have to wait a little bit longer. (By Aqualyn Toi Jones)
I copied this from the internet. It really spoke to my heart and I hope it will speak to yours too.
Psalms 103 is my favorite psalm and perhaps it is yours too.
(Psalms 103:1-5)
A Psalm of David.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (RSV)
Often we find ourselves in a pit. Our lives not going forward and sometimes like Joseph; victims of jealous brothers.
Gen 37:19-20 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild beast has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” (RSV)
and like Daniel a victim of jealous coworkers.
Dan 6:20-23 When he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.” Rsv
A few days ago God woke me up to pray for people who are in a pit. One time they used to serve God with joy but all that is now lost. They live in discouraged, demoralized, and often condemned. Like peter who was held by Herod they are in prison. Groups of soldiers, tied feet and hands and gates of iron are not a problem for our God when He comes to free His own.
(Acts 12:6-8) And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” (NKJV)
In whatever prison we may be in, I have this testimony that our God is on the way to bring our salvation.
(Hebrews 10:35-39) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (NKJV)
Thanks to those who are sharing with me on the victories God is giving them.
We will soon share with others that all of us may be encouraged in the knowledge that our God is alive and that He is a good God.
Till next week.
You are in my prayers.
Pastor James Kimani.
I have a healing conference in Immenstadt on May 29th and 30th.
I covet your prayers and for those who can attend, welcome.
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