The Perfect “Coach”
By Shirley Mitchell
“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.”
Job 12:13
My daughter Mikayla just finished her first soccer season on her middle school’s team. Her school is so small that they joined with another school to try to get enough players. They still needed players so although she is not in middle school yet, they let her play. When her Coach Caleb found out who her select soccer team’s coach was, he was thrilled to have her on the team but nervous because he knew how good he was.
At the end of the season pizza party, Coach Caleb started passing out awards with Mikayla, the youngest player from their school. He complimented her foot skills and sense for the ball, but he also shared how intimidated he was to coach her. In his opinion (and ours!), her other select team Coach Steve was the best girls’ soccer coach in the state.
See, Coach Caleb is just a father who loves his daughter. When his daughter took an interest in soccer, he learned all that he could to spend time, develop, and coach her. Although he has learned a lot, he doesn’t know as much as Coach Steve, who has played soccer for years, was the leader on his team, and has coached many successful teams.
Coach Steve knows how to play the game, develops the girls, acts with complete integrity, and displays the highest character. He knows the strategy of the game. He instructs the girls on positioning and develops their foot skills. He knows how to get more out of the girls than they themselves think they can do. He understands the mind of the young girls, too. He motivates the girls when they are down. He teaches them the difference between playing and competing. He knows they are easily distracted, and he reels them in again. Even though the officials may not call the game correctly, his temper stays controlled, his mouth never demeans anyone, and his tongue is never foul. He is fair, good, and caring.
The combination of his character with knowledge reminds me of what we need in people in leadership and power and more importantly, in a God. While God is much more than a coach, imagine with me for a minute what if God was not perfect in knowledge and understanding? What if time was a barrier for Him so He couldn’t see the future? What if He couldn’t understand your situation that you are in right now? What if He was learning how to be a god as He went along and was just leading us through life because He loved us since we are His children?
What if God was a god of bad character? What if He was exasperating because we could never make Him happy, and He was always disciplining us without love or worse abusive to us? What if He was arrogant, ego-maniac, or self-centered? What if He lashed out in anger and said things He regretted later? What if He promised us something then just changed His mind? Or I just shudder to think of this, what if He lied to us? Imagine the turmoil and ghastly ramifications of having a god like that. A god like that would never win my affection, adoration, or worship. I would never bend my knee to that kind of god.
However, because God is both perfect in knowledge and character and desires to guide me through life, it compels me to lift up my arms and shout “Hallelujah.” When I reflect on the contrast of what could be lacking in a god with who He is as a God, I am awestruck.
Today’s verse reminds you and me that God is not just a wise, powerful counselor with a lot of understanding. All four of those things belong to Him. The Hebrew word for belongs is used in this instance to indicate possession. Think about this. Our God owns and controls wisdom, power, counsel, and understanding. This marvelous combination makes Him a good God in whom we can fully trust for the outcome of any heart-rending situation, hotspot that we get into, and to guide us through life. Let’s take comfort in who the God Almighty is!
Pray with me: Oh, Lord, You are perfect in character and perfect in knowledge. You are our Counselor. Wisdom and understanding and power belong to You. You guide us with Your counsel, and afterward You will take us into glory (Psalm 73:24). Teach us Your ways so we may walk in Your paths (Isaiah 2:3b). Instruct us and teach us the way we should go. Counsel us and watch over us (Psalm 32:8). You are better than any human coach. You develop and conform us into the likeness of Your Perfect Son. You know exactly how to get to our hearts, how to motivate us, and how to get us to change. Thank You for being so patient with us and preparing us for heaven. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels Ministry
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Showing posts with label counselor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label counselor. Show all posts
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
You are Mine!
You Are Mine!
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ ”
Psalm 91:1-2
I told you previously my story about God speaking to me and rejuvenating me at a Christian event by telling me that I had an “is-to-come.” God has more that He wants to do to glorify His name in my life. I have more works than just writing and videotaping Jesus Lives.
So of course, I started looking for another word regarding my is-to-come at this same event. As we closed the event, we sang Chris Tomlin’s new version of Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). I knew when I saw the words, “God who has called me safe thus far” that the next line was the key to my calling. I thought, “Yes, Lord, You have called me.” I couldn’t remember the next line so I waited in anxious expectation to remember what it was. The next line was this: “Will be forever mine.” You see, I don’t know the details of my is-to-come. God has only told me that He has poured the Word into me and that I am to pour it out. He has not revealed anything else. He reaffirmed for me that I just need to know one thing. I just need to know Jesus and that He is forever mine. Jesus is mine forevermore!!!!!
This powerful word embossed on my heart was enough for me. It is all that I need to know to press through the days to come. He is mine. He is my refuge and my fortress. He is my God in whom I trust. I have a personal relationship with Him. He is actively working in my life. He will never leave me, forsake me, or fail me. He is willing to walk every day and every moment of this life with me forevermore!
In my Bible, I have a list of all of the characteristics or names of God that I could jot down in just a couple of minutes. Each of these characteristics or names reminds me of a time when He has taught His true identity through a life experience: Bestower of beauty, Releaser of captives, Restorer of dignity, Giver of significance, Victor over darkness, Mender of broken hearts, Defender, Giver of good gifts, Defender of the weak, Counselor, and Healer! He is holy, glorious, righteous, sovereign, good, loving, involved, supreme, orderly, perfect, faithful, caring, just, accessible, redeeming, cleansing, all-knowing, invincible, majestic, joyful, creative, foreseeing, kind, patient, approachable, perfect, worthy, wonderful, uncommon, triumphant, and mighty! He is a Gentleman, Abba (Daddy), Strong Tower, Warrior, Rock, Comforter, Alpha and Omega, and Lord of everything. Elohim – Creator God, El Roi – the God who sees, El Shaddai – God Almighty, and Adonai – Master. He is my very best friend!! This is my God! I love praying in this list and declaring the truth aloud about God. What a glorious God you and I have! When you and I decree the truth about who He is, we will respond in complete praise and adoration.
Since I know who my God is, I know His character and His ways so I can trust the Holder of the future. God is trustworthy for my personal calling and for your personal calling. God is also trustworthy for what is going to happen to His believers in the days to come. As crises continue to happen and as we head into perilous times, all we really need to know about tomorrow is the Holder of tomorrow. God will let us know directly or through His prophets of our generation when the time comes to reveal His plan. If God is not telling me details about my future, then He is letting me ponder more, trust more, and revel in the glory that time is in His hands. He can never be forced to unveil faster than He is ready to unveil.
Do you trust Him with your tomorrow, beloved? Are you trusting Him today? Are you letting Him use you this day to further His kingdom? Are you taking one step closer to Him each day? Is it embedded in you that all you need is Him in this life, or are you pursuing other things? What are you spending most of your time doing when you could be spending it with God? Is He personal to you? Do you have the closeness in relationship with Him that is unlike any other? Oh, precious one, how I pray that you realize that God forever being yours is the biggest thrill of all of life. He is the only friend who withstands the test of time. Praise You, Lord!
Pray with me: Oh, God, You are my God! Our close relationship is unlike any other. You are willing to walk every day and every moment with me. There is no crisis where You will leave me. There is no situation where Your love will fail me. You and I were glued together when my sin was nailed to the cross by Your Son’s precious blood. I will dwell daily under Your shelter, O Most High, and rest in Your shadow, God Almighty. I will gladly tell all that You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust (Psalm 91:1-2). My life is entwined with You. Our paths will not depart again. You are mine, and I am Yours! It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ ”
Psalm 91:1-2
I told you previously my story about God speaking to me and rejuvenating me at a Christian event by telling me that I had an “is-to-come.” God has more that He wants to do to glorify His name in my life. I have more works than just writing and videotaping Jesus Lives.
So of course, I started looking for another word regarding my is-to-come at this same event. As we closed the event, we sang Chris Tomlin’s new version of Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). I knew when I saw the words, “God who has called me safe thus far” that the next line was the key to my calling. I thought, “Yes, Lord, You have called me.” I couldn’t remember the next line so I waited in anxious expectation to remember what it was. The next line was this: “Will be forever mine.” You see, I don’t know the details of my is-to-come. God has only told me that He has poured the Word into me and that I am to pour it out. He has not revealed anything else. He reaffirmed for me that I just need to know one thing. I just need to know Jesus and that He is forever mine. Jesus is mine forevermore!!!!!
This powerful word embossed on my heart was enough for me. It is all that I need to know to press through the days to come. He is mine. He is my refuge and my fortress. He is my God in whom I trust. I have a personal relationship with Him. He is actively working in my life. He will never leave me, forsake me, or fail me. He is willing to walk every day and every moment of this life with me forevermore!
In my Bible, I have a list of all of the characteristics or names of God that I could jot down in just a couple of minutes. Each of these characteristics or names reminds me of a time when He has taught His true identity through a life experience: Bestower of beauty, Releaser of captives, Restorer of dignity, Giver of significance, Victor over darkness, Mender of broken hearts, Defender, Giver of good gifts, Defender of the weak, Counselor, and Healer! He is holy, glorious, righteous, sovereign, good, loving, involved, supreme, orderly, perfect, faithful, caring, just, accessible, redeeming, cleansing, all-knowing, invincible, majestic, joyful, creative, foreseeing, kind, patient, approachable, perfect, worthy, wonderful, uncommon, triumphant, and mighty! He is a Gentleman, Abba (Daddy), Strong Tower, Warrior, Rock, Comforter, Alpha and Omega, and Lord of everything. Elohim – Creator God, El Roi – the God who sees, El Shaddai – God Almighty, and Adonai – Master. He is my very best friend!! This is my God! I love praying in this list and declaring the truth aloud about God. What a glorious God you and I have! When you and I decree the truth about who He is, we will respond in complete praise and adoration.
Since I know who my God is, I know His character and His ways so I can trust the Holder of the future. God is trustworthy for my personal calling and for your personal calling. God is also trustworthy for what is going to happen to His believers in the days to come. As crises continue to happen and as we head into perilous times, all we really need to know about tomorrow is the Holder of tomorrow. God will let us know directly or through His prophets of our generation when the time comes to reveal His plan. If God is not telling me details about my future, then He is letting me ponder more, trust more, and revel in the glory that time is in His hands. He can never be forced to unveil faster than He is ready to unveil.
Do you trust Him with your tomorrow, beloved? Are you trusting Him today? Are you letting Him use you this day to further His kingdom? Are you taking one step closer to Him each day? Is it embedded in you that all you need is Him in this life, or are you pursuing other things? What are you spending most of your time doing when you could be spending it with God? Is He personal to you? Do you have the closeness in relationship with Him that is unlike any other? Oh, precious one, how I pray that you realize that God forever being yours is the biggest thrill of all of life. He is the only friend who withstands the test of time. Praise You, Lord!
Pray with me: Oh, God, You are my God! Our close relationship is unlike any other. You are willing to walk every day and every moment with me. There is no crisis where You will leave me. There is no situation where Your love will fail me. You and I were glued together when my sin was nailed to the cross by Your Son’s precious blood. I will dwell daily under Your shelter, O Most High, and rest in Your shadow, God Almighty. I will gladly tell all that You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust (Psalm 91:1-2). My life is entwined with You. Our paths will not depart again. You are mine, and I am Yours! It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels
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