“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” — Philippians 4:8
>> Sign up here for Sports Spectrum devotionals sent right to your email inbox <<
“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” According to Proverbs 23:7 (NASB), what we think about directly impacts what we do and who we are.
As a major league pitcher, many things were out of my control. Once the catcher and I agreed on the pitch, I focused on delivering the ball in the agreed location. Once the ball left my hand, what the hitter did, where the ball went after it was hit, and how the fielder handled that ball was all out of my control. Many times, I made the pitch I wanted to make and it still was roped for a hit because major league hitters are the best in the world.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to control what is within our ability to control. I tell the men I disciple that the spiritual determines the mental, which determines the physical. To be fully prepared to perform on the field, we need to control what our minds are thinking about. If I think my opponent is better than me, it will impact my effort.
Paul challenges us in Philippians 4:8 to have a proper mindset by thinking about the right things. There is nothing negative in his list.
Paul was writing from prison. He had been a persecutor of Christians before coming to know Jesus, and he had faced many difficulties as a follower of Jesus. Yet, Paul learned to control what he allowed his mind to think about, and that allowed him to make an eternal impact.
— Mickey Weston, Chicago White Sox chaplain
If you would like to submit a devotional, please email all submissions to
devotionals@sportsspectrum.com.
Click here for all Sports Spectrum Daily Devotionals
>> Purchase “The Increase 52 Week Devotional” to further grow your relationship with Christ <<
