Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Champions Are Made in the Off Season

Photo by Flickr user  See-ming Lee 李思明 SML
One of my favorite quotations is the title of this blog, "Champions are made in the off season." This statement is loaded with truth. When others are relaxing, the future champion knows that the gift of time is his or her opportunity to prepare, to plan, to dream, and to focus. It is the window where they can work to improve and perfect their skills, hone their disciplines, and intensify their determination. 

Moses is quoted in Psalm 90:12 as saying, "Lord, teach us to number our days that we might gain a heart of wisdom." When we come to grips with the truth that life is short, that our opportunities are limited, and that life is not a dress rehearsal, we can calmly conclude that we must focus on what is of utmost importance. In general terms it means living out the will of God. But specifically it means doing what God wants when He wants it.

So, you find yourself in an off season and you are not sure how to prepare for your next arena. What then? What do you do when you don't know what to do? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Realize that you have a gift of time. You can decide to waste it or invest it. Make the determined decision to invest your time wisely. What can you do with your time that will prepare you for where you would like to be if the right door opens? Your discretionary time may only be a few hours a day. What will you do with it?

2.   Knowing your experiences, your passions, your skills, your giftedness, your maturity level, and your dreams, what do you want to accomplish? If that opportunity suddenly materialized, what knowledge, disciplines, and skills would you be required to possess? Start working today to acquire what you need. The only one stopping you is you.

3. Write down what you believe you should be doing. In different terminology, write out what you believe may be God's will for your life. This will provide you a target. It will help you focus on where to invest your time. Looking every day at what you have written will assist you to stay on point.

4. If it is God's will you want to know, then set aside time daily to read His Word. Much of what God wants for your life is found in Scripture. You will not know what it is, if you do not take time to read it. I also suggest that you ask the Lord, "What is it you want for my life?" How often are we guilty of living out the biblical truth, "You have not because you ask not?"

5. Start sharpening your skills and gaining the knowledge you think you will need now. Do you need to return to school? Do you need to read a certain amount of books? What is it that will prepare you for what you want to do? Take the initiative to prepare yourself. Get started now. Anticipate that when you are ready, God will open the door.

I am wrapping up reading through the Pentateuch (the first five books in the Bible). One of the central figures is Moses. God had a great task for him to accomplish. For 40 years God prepared him by his mundane work as a shepherd. Little did he realize that what he probably perceived as a "wasted" life (40 years in the wilderness) was actually God's preparation. His formal education in Egypt was critical, but his practical education in the wilderness was just as important. When God was ready to use him, he was ready to be used, even though he had insecurities.


Let me encourage you to prepare yourself as if you are being groomed for a world-class challenge. Then trust God to open the door at the right time and in the right place. Live each day with the expectation that this might be the day that God's great opportunity presents itself. Make sure that you have prepared yourself in the off season to be a champion!

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