Preparing For Victory

Because Life Is One Long Playoff Series

Ron MacLean’s take on playoff hockey echoes a truth of the Christian life.

The co-host of Hockey Night in Canada made a comment on Coach’s Corner with Don Cherry, suggesting when the pressure is on in the playoffs you “sink to the level of your preparation.”

His comment reminds me of the importance that, as men of God, we prepare ourselves for each task.

Have we prepared ourselves so that when pressure comes we are ready for it? Or do we think we’ll find a way to rise to the occasion after neglecting to get ready?

In engineering, I ask myself if it’s reasonable to expect a given project to succeed. In other words, are we confident we have done our due diligence to be able to say that all the effort going in will result in a successful project?

The same is true in hockey. Why does a team expect it can win against its opponent? What have they done to prepare in advance of the series to beat the other team?

And the same is true in our faith. As Christians, we are encouraged that we can be victorious over sin, and walk as Jesus walked. We need to “Run in such a way to win the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24b)

So how do we do that?

First, we need to spend time with God so that his love permeates us. When it does, we will love Him and our neighbour. Deliberately spending time with God prepares us. We should ask ourselves—out of all the things in life, what gives us the greatest joy? Do we love spending time with God, praying, reading our Bible, and serving people? If not, we should ask ourselves why; “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

Second, we should biblically cast off whatever is slowing us down. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

Third, we should not go it alone. We should be willing to reach out to people, and be willing to let people reach out to us. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)

As singles, there can be a natural tendency because of our circumstances to not be around people as much as those who are married. This is why it is important to intentionally stay connected. The body of Christ needs us, and we need it.

By allowing the love of Christ to permeate us, by casting off restraints, and by staying connected we can be prepared for whatever comes our way.

Preparation and victory are always connected.

/ PAUL BOGE is the author of Father to the Fatherless: The Charles Mulli Story and six other books. He is currently working on a true story of human trafficking in Canada. He’s an engineer, single and lives in Winnipeg. paulb@boge-boge.com