Who are You? And to Whom am I Proving Myself? Pride and Football

It’s that time again. The 2023-2024 school year is coming to an end and our Genesis Bible Fellowship Youth and Young Adults (Gen. B.FY)  have seen and heard things only they can tell. This month our youth and young adults will share how those things  impacted their walk and which Biblical principles did they apply and/or glean from them. Saints, be encouraged and please encourage our Gen. B.FY.

During this year I faced many trials and tribulations, but none of them more clear than my pride. My form of pride came through what I have come to love very deeply, which is the game of football. I grew up playing football ever since I was five, with every chance that I had I would spend time with the game. I believe God gave me a gift of loving the game of football. With that gift I can show Him to the world, through myself with His ability and His purpose.

As I grew older, I often allowed my pride to get the best of me to show that I wanted to prove myself to my coaches to my teammates of who I am. I fell in this trap for this chase of glory and praise, which ultimately was not mine, but the Lord's. The summary of my junior year was a series of ups and downs through the game of football. Which I failed to realize that the game was connected to my walk with Christ. When I had bad days I constantly thought about what my coaches thought. I constantly thought about what my teammates thought, I constantly thought about what I could’ve done better, and never took the time to thank God for the opportunity.

When God brought this to me, I begin to take an hour before practice to go out into the field and look up at the sky. I would look at what God created and the opportunity and the memories He gave me on this field. I would spend time with God in a place where He spent time with me, when I was a child and where He continues to spend time with me. Every game, my dad used to ask me, “Who am I playing for?” I was supposed to respond, "For God." However, while at college I lost that message which deeply impacted my walk with Christ. Through this I learned that humbly I am nothing without Christ. I don’t have to pound myself on the chest like everyone else., or look to my coach and check for his approval. Because I know if I’m playing for the Lord, then I have His approval, through Him He can showcase through me who He is and what I stand for in Him.

Prayer: Father God, I asked that You continually remind me Who I am proving myself to and not focus on the distractions of the world, but on You and Your purpose. I hope You continually shine light on my purpose through You. For I am ready to open my ears, open my eyes, open my heart for Your voice and for Your Words, amen.
By Bro. Joshua Buck