Devotional on your platform: August 8

Daily Devotional: Friday, August 8 – What’s Your Platform?

By Sports Spectrum Aug 8, 2025

(AP Photo/Robert DeBerry)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24

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I spent some time coaching middle school volleyball, and one of the very first things I would teach my girls was “platform” because everything starts there. It’s your foundation. The way you set your arms determines whether you make the perfect pass or completely shank it. It didn’t matter how quick they were or how powerful their swing was; if their platform was off, the whole play collapsed.

The basics always matter. And in life, the same principle applies: Your foundation determines your direction.

In today’s culture, platform often gets confused with popularity — how many followers you have, how loud your voice is, or how much influence you carry. But as Christians, we know a true platform isn’t about applause; it’s about what holds you up when the pressure hits. It’s not about performance; it’s about your foundation. It’s your convictions. Your priorities. Your purpose in Christ.

As Kingdom-minded coaches and athletes, our platform must be built on something deeper than talent, trophies or titles. It must be built on truth. Jesus said in Matthew 7:24 (above) that the wise person builds their house on the rock (His Word). That’s the kind of platform that lasts. That way, when the storms of life come — and they will — you won’t be shaken.

Before you step on the court, field or into the locker room, check your platform. Are you standing on solid truth or shifting sand? Are you building your life on God’s Word or chasing affirmation from others?

Your identity isn’t found in your stats, your starting position, or your social media following. It’s found in who God says you are. So, what’s your platform? Make sure it’s strong enough to carry the weight of your calling.

— Melissa Motes

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Daily Devotional: Friday, January 23 – Process To The Promise

By Sports Spectrum Jan 23, 2026

(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 1:20a

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Athletes know they need to train hard, put in the work, and go above and beyond in order to reach their goal. Each player knows it takes commitment and trust to be able to get to the next level. There’s an achievement they all want to reach, but great athletes know it takes going through the process in order to get to the promise.

I think about Mary’s journey and the process she had to go through in order to fulfill the promise. From when she found out that she was going to be carrying the Son of God, to the fear of what people would say, the rejection, the pain and uncertainty of what the future would hold. Could she be strong enough? Would she be equipped to raise the Savior of the world?

In sports and in life, there are many circumstances and trials we will face. An athlete may get hurt and have to go through a season of rehab, enduring pain and fear of the future, but it’s all part of the process to get to the promise. One may get cut from the team and start to question their purpose, but it’s all part of the process to the promise.

Critics will deny your gifting and abilities, but it’s all part of the process to the promise. In life, you may go through seasons of financial disarray, grief or testing, but it’s all part of the process to the promise. God’s not punishing you through the process; He’s building your faith to trust in Him more.

The process makes us stronger, the process builds character, the process breaks chains. Going through the process leads us to the promise. So whatever your process looks like, or wherever you are in your process, remember that our greatest promise already came as a Baby in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Make room for Him in your life today and you will receive the best promise of all — God Himself!

— Yen K. Duong

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Daily Devotional: Thursday, January 22 – Watering Others

By Sports Spectrum Jan 22, 2026

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“The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” — Proverbs 11:25 (NKJV)

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My husband and I took the kids up to a local gym during a recent school break. While my husband did a training run with our oldest son who runs track and cross-country for a local university, I had our younger two boys in the gym playing basketball. Our middle son plays for his high school team and our youngest wanted to practice for his upcoming YMCA winter basketball league. We decided to play a pick-up game: older brother versus mom and little brother.

As we played, I noticed a young boy watching us, and I knew that look: He wanted an invite into the game. I mentioned it to one of my boys, but he was hesitant to say yes. We played a little longer and the boy got up the courage to ask. I wasn’t going to turn him away — I’m the mom in her 40s ready to hop into a pick-up game, so I could relate.

I welcomed him onto our team. We faced off, now 3 vs. 1, and it was a good workout for my older son. After a few minutes of play, the little boy threw me a pass. I was in my sweet spot — the mid-range. I shot the ball and in it went, nothing but net.

I’m guessing the little boy wasn’t used to playing with middle-aged moms, so my shot surprised him. The compliment he gave me made me laugh. He said, “Man, it’s like playing with Steph’s mom.”

It was a reminder of something God’s been teaching me: “He who waters will also be watered himself” (Proverbs 11:25, above). When you feel discouraged or tired, look for ways to “water” someone else. Give them a sincere compliment. Invite them into your circle. Extend hospitality or encouragement. The truth of God’s Word is that He has a heart to see the “cup of cold water” extended to our fellow man, and He has a heart to make sure that when we are thirsty, He repays (Matthew 10:42).

Of course, I’d love to be a starting point guard in the game of life, but God is teaching me one of the best positions on the team is one we often forget about — anyone need a good water girl? Keep me in mind.

— Rachel Gibbons

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Daily Devotional: Wednesday, January 21 – Through The Lens

By Sports Spectrum Jan 21, 2026

Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso disputes a call with the first base umpire, June 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’” — 1 Samuel 17:45

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During a recent Oklahoma-Alabama softball game, there was a play at first being reviewed by the umpires to determine whether or not the runner was out. They kept showing the replay on the video board. If you were an OU fan, your perspective was that the runner was safe, but if you were a ‘Bama fan, your perspective was that the runner was out.

Even though everyone was watching the exact same video, your perspective was different based on the lens you were watching through. The reality was that the perspective of the fans didn’t matter, only the umpire’s did. The umpire’s responsibility is not to any one team, but to the game.

In 1 Samuel 17, King Saul and Israel saw the giant, Goliath, taunting them to fight. They heard his threats through the lens of self, and therefore reacted in fear and refused to fight. But David’s lens was different.

He approached the giant no one else would and declared boldly, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (v. 45). David — just a shepherd boy — saw this giant and heard his threats through the lens of God, and he reacted in faith, then fought and won!

When we look at our struggles and broken world, may our focus not be on the giants in front of us, but on the living God who died, rose again, and dwells inside of us.

— Sarah Roberts, University of Oklahoma softball chaplain

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Daily Devotional: Tuesday, January 20 – Workers Are Few

By Sports Spectrum Jan 20, 2026

(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

“He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” — Luke 10:2

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Andrew Cordasco began his college football career playing tight end at the University of Virginia. After his freshman year, he transferred to Liberty University, where he continued his football career.

My first encounter with Andrew wasn’t on the football field or in a team chapel, but at Light Church in Bangkok, Thailand — his imposing 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame standing behind a music stand and preaching from Colossians in Thai on a Sunday. Leaving a very comfortable life in America, Andrew and his wife, Emily, were called by God to be missionaries to one of the most unreached people groups in the world.

For the past three years, they’ve taken language classes and can now hold conversations and share their faith in Thai. Their three kids are even bilingual. They’ve learned the culture and customs of Thailand too — all because they love the Thai people and want to see them come to trust, love and follow Jesus.

In Luke 10:2 (above), Jesus says the harvest of people who will come to faith in Him is plentiful. The harvest is ripe. The weak link is the workers. So we are to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Andrew and Emily were sent out to another country as an answer to that prayer.

Would you pray for workers to be sent out into His harvest? And would you go out, whether near or far, as a worker into His harvest?

— Ikki Soma, Iowa Wolves chaplain

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If you would like to submit a devotional, please email all submissions to
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Daily Devotional: Friday, August 8 – What’s Your Platform?

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Daily Devotional: Friday, January 23 – Process To The Promise

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Daily Devotional: Thursday, January 22 – Watering Others

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Daily Devotional: Wednesday, January 21 – Through The Lens

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Daily Devotional: Tuesday, January 20 – Workers Are Few

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