by Jeff Forney
As a player and coach one of my favorite parts of the game was going over the opposing team’s scouting report. As a coach I participated in gathering this information and it always felt like being a spy. I felt I was secretly getting the inside tips to the team's weakness and strengths. This information was gathered and discussed amongst our team to give us an edge on our opponent. We see this done in all sports at all levels and I’m sure many of you do it every weekend, as you scout other players and record their weaknesses and strengths. You gather this information analyze it, break it down, and create a game plan of defense or offense, to try and give your team that extra margin to help them be successful in the game.
Preparation for the game is designed to equip you with the best information to go out and execute with precision and assurance the team game plan. The better this plan is executed the more confidence players and coaches have about the outcome of the game. I always love digging into the pitcher tendencies. If a pitcher had a pattern of particular pitches he threw in certain situations, I wanted know. I studied video of pitchers for hours and taught my hitters the same formula, looking for ways a pitcher might tip his pitches. The in-depth search for a competitive advantage goes on and is truly one of the foundational blocks of team and individual preparation.
Life’s Scouting Report
How do we prepare our scouting report for life? What is our game plan for the one true purpose God has called each one of us to do? Where do we go and get the information that will truly give our life direction? The answer to these questions and many more that we have, are found in God’s playbook, the Bible.
I love taking an athletic approach to almost everything I do in life and searching God’s word is no different for me. I love to look at some passages and then analyze them, meditate on them, and finally ask how I can apply them to my game plan of life. Much the same way I looked for tendencies in pitchers, I do the same in God’s word. One resounding tendency I find from His word is, that He loves me and you and wants to help lead and guide us in the very best direction in life.
Here is a passage from the Bible that I searched out and broke down for application in my life. I invite you to do the same in some of your quiet moments. I can assure you, you’ll find direction for every part of your life and it will be the best scouting report you ever had.
My Personal Scouting Report
Psalms 19:7-8 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight to life." (New Living Translation)
Why can the Word of God revive my soul? It’s trustworthy, it has intellect, it is perfect.
The Word of God gives me direction, joy, and insight to my life.
These game plan actions help give me a focus and my prayer is that God will help me to carry them out in my life today.
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