The Game Plan

Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.  (Proverbs 24:27 NIV)

Creating and understanding the game plan is essential for success in any sport. Whether you are making pitching changes, disguising pass coverage, or deciding how to handle the pick and roll, it is vital to have your team prepared when the game begins.

Many coaches make a living on being “X’s and O’s” guys. They are great at utilizing the strengths of the team to take advantage of the weaknesses of the opponent. By watching film, charting tendencies, and creating a plan to combat those tendencies, these coaches find success in looking at the game as puzzle just waiting to be solved.

Other coaches focus on preparing their teams by motivation. They are often loud and inspirational, sometimes putting more time into their locker room speeches than their on-field schemes. They pull on the heart strings of their players, setting the opponent up to be an enemy in every way. These coaches thrive on getting the most effort out of their players.

Similarly, there are multiple approaches to ministry. Some Christians are master strategists. They read research on how to reach the lost, they visit other churches for ideas. They create committees and teams focused on building a strategy to maximize both the quantity and quality of the ministry being delivered.

Others use their charisma to inspire faith in a project. They speak of outcomes, quote scripture, and encourage everyone to pray and have faith that God will handle the details. They often have a large following and have the full commitment of everyone involved, seeing the project through to the very end.

So which type of leadership is best? Sure, some situations may need more of one type or another. But the ideal situation would be to have both. Yes, faith in God’s providence is vital to any movement for His kingdom. Prayer and passion are always necessary.

But the Bible also tells us to plan ahead. When writing to Philemon, Paul said “And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers” (Philemon 22). Due to his faith, he initiated a plan to ensure that he was ready for God’s will to be done. The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom about being prepared and disciplined.

So when you are planning your next event or trying to find God’s plan for your next steps, make sure a variety of skill sets are at the table. The leadership of any ministry is stronger when God’s people rely on faith and utilize the talents God has given them to carry out His work.

– Jamie Boggs, Sports Spectrum Reader

If you would like to submit a reader devotional, please email all submissions to jason@pao.org.