Being God Centered
“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 CSB
Ready
During my high school varsity baseball debut as a shortstop, I was filled with excitement and anticipation for the all-city jamboree. However, once I stepped onto the field, everything felt different. The dirt under my cleats felt like glue and the pace of play seemed lightning-fast. Unfortunately, I made three errors. A similar situation occurred during the first game of my freshman year in college, where once again, I made three errors and my performance was far from extraordinary.
Reflecting on these experiences, I realized that certain moments caused me uneasiness and anxiety, leading me to lose focus and forget all my training. The pressures of having to perform made me feel like a prisoner of the moment.
Just as this happens in sports, the same can occur in our relationship with God. Worry can cause us to drift away from Him and rely too much on our own abilities. However, we must resist this temptation and take action to combat it.
Set
To combat worry and anxiety, I developed a routine in between pitches during my playing career. I wrote scripture on the inside of my hat's bill that I would recite. I did this in between every pitch. This routine helped me remain focused and centered, resulting in some of my best defensive years.
In Philippians 4:6-7, it states “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Go
To be God-centered means to prioritize God and His will in your life. It involves seeking His guidance and wisdom in all aspects of life, both big and small.
One way to achieve this is by getting into His Word regularly. By studying the Bible, we gain a deeper understanding of God's character and His plan for our lives.
Another way to stay God-centered is through prayer. During tough moments, it can be easy to become anxious or worried. By creating a quick prayer or turning to key verses, we can keep our focus on God and His promises. For example, reciting the phrase "God is trustworthy" while taking a deep breath in and saying "I can let go" as we exhale can be a powerful way to center ourselves in God's presence.
Rather than allowing performance anxiety to dictate the course of our playing careers and lives, let us opt for a higher and greater response. Let us make the conscious decision to keep ourselves centered in God.
Before I conclude, I want to share with you the Bible verse I mentioned earlier. It is the same verse that I wrote on the inside of my hat's bill to help me focus on God, a practice that I still follow to this day, and I challenge you to do the same.
Proverbs 21:31
“A horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but victory comes from the Lord.”
Don’t worry about being great.
Be God Centered.
- What is one practice you can implement to become God-centered?
- What is a verse you can memorize to remind you of God’s character and love?
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