Devotional on God's glory: October 20

Daily Devotional: Monday, October 20 – God’s Glory

By Sports Spectrum Oct 20, 2025

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley celebrates after scoring, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” — Psalm 29:2

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Jersey sales often tell the story of the most popular football players. After Saquon Barkley moved from the New York Giants to the Philadelphia Eagles through free agency, he had one of his best seasons and may have made the difference in propelling the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Barkley gets lots of attention for scoring touchdowns and getting first downs, but it’s important for players not to bask too much in the glory given to them and remember that each player is a small part of a big organization and a higher goal.

Though Moses got a glimpse of God at the burning bush when God spoke to him, he had doubts and fears after he started leading the Israelites and pleaded with God to give him another visible demonstration. The Lord was patient with Moses and allowed him to see a portion of the Lord as He passed by over the mountain. God said no sinful human is able to see the fullness of God here on earth, but Moses saw God’s back and the sight was unforgettable. “‘But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live'” (Exodus 33:20).

God is glorious because He is absolutely perfect, completely pure, and infinite in power. The glory of God is shown many times in the Bible. He did miracles in Egypt to set the Israelites free, and in the wilderness where God preserved the lives of the Jewish people for 40 years. Then King Solomon and a host of Israelites saw God’s glory when the temple was built and dedicated. “When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple” (1 Kings 8:10-11).

God has always existed. He never ages and He will always be. We need to focus on the spiritual world and lift up God’s name to honor and adore our God. He is worthy of the greatest admiration because nobody compares to Him. “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness” (Psalm 29:2).

God’s glory is so far beyond our ability that we will never be able to reach God’s perfect standard. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, we should be careful to praise God rather than ourselves or some other human with faults. “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness” (Psalm 115:1). However, even sinful people can bring glory to God when we put God first in our lives and keep our eyes on Jesus. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Who (or what) gets the glory in your life? Where is your focus?

— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia

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Daily Devotional: Tuesday, November 11 – Delayed Thanks

By Sports Spectrum Nov 11, 2025

(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

“… God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” — Hebrews 12:10b-11

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I was sitting at my computer, totally engulfed in the work of the day — completing tasks, making phone calls, writing letters, checking on people. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a text from a former player. She simply wrote to say “thank you” … but for what?

She had joined the Army, made it through basic training, and had just been assigned a great position at her base. She ended her note with, “Thank you. I didn’t understand what you were doing then, but I do now. Grateful for you. Love you.” I leaned back in my chair, deeply moved.

As her coach, we wrestled through hard lessons: learning accountability, maturing in leadership, facing consequences, and becoming the best version of herself. None of it was easy — for either of us. But it mattered. It stuck. And now, years later, she saw it.

It made me think — God does the same with us. He coaches us, challenges us, disciplines us — not to harm us, but to grow us. Hebrews 12:7-11 reminds us: “Endure hardship as discipline. … God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

It is not always clear in the moment, but God’s discipline is a gift. He’s shaping us with purpose. So today, don’t forget to tell your Heavenly Coach, “Thank You. I get it now.”

— Fleceia Comeaux, Houston Dash chaplain

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Daily Devotional: Monday, November 10 – Meeting With God

By Sports Spectrum Nov 10, 2025

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen walks to the field before training camp, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” — 2 Peter 3:18

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NFL players have a busy schedule during the season. They practice several times a week, study the playbook, attend team meetings, lift weights, make media appearances, do charity work, and study film to scout opponents and see how they may improve individually. Professional athletes may also be expected to keep an active social media presence and be accessible to fans.

It’s not easy for active athletes to find time for family, friends and faith, but many experience regret later in their lives if they don’t take time for personal renewal and growth. Many young men see their lives spin out of control, then wake up one day and wonder what happened.

In the Bible, Moses was calm in many high-pressure, public settings, and stood strong as an outstanding leader for the Israelites for 40 years. As most of the Israelites panicked, insulted Moses and doubted God, Moses kept his cool and helped his countrymen settle down at the edge of the deep Red Sea even though Pharoah and his army were breathing down their neck. “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still'” (Exodus 14:13-14).

It’s helpful to look at the background of Moses and see how God met with him one on one at the burning bush. Before God spoke directly with him, Moses knew what his parents had told him about the Lord, and he knew God worked wonders in the past with his ancestors, but something changed when Moses heard God’s voice and watched Him do mighty miracles in front of him. “Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6). Suddenly, Moses believed God could do the same for him and his generation that he did in years past.

Just as God met privately with Abraham before He worked in and through his life, God would also produce great works and deeds through Moses. On several occasions, Moses went up on the mountain to meet with God alone — and that was one of main reasons he did well in a crowd.

We need to make our personal relationship with God more important than our public performances.

When we travel life’s road, we may face many temptations and difficulties that hinder our progress, so it’s a necessity to keep on spending regular time alone with God to be filled with wisdom and to be refreshed. Burnout is a real problem and the devil is always trying to pull God’s servants into sin.

Like Moses, if we want to please the Lord and be a good example for others, we need to keep on meeting with and growing in Christ daily. As Peter reminds us, we shouldn’t be satisfied with our current state, but always growing. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). Then Paul echoed his thoughts by encouraging us to study the Bible for a lifetime because God uses it to grow us throughout our lives: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia

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Daily Devotional: Friday, November 7 – Taking Stock

By Sports Spectrum Nov 7, 2025

Boston Red Sox Manager Alex Cora, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow, President & CEO Sam Kennedy, from left, listen to reporters' questions, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” — Ephesians 4:22-24

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For Major League Baseball teams, this time of year is critical. Assuming a team didn’t make it to the playoffs, it’s a period of stepping back and evaluating the most recent season, deciding if it’s best to continue with the plan, people and structure in place, or if it’s necessary to make a change. Over the next several weeks, sports headlines, tweets, podcasts and reports will be filled with discussion over the hiring or firing of managers, the trading of players, the signing of other players, and the raw yet real truth of what went right or wrong in certain organizations during the year. One could argue it’s a messy, uncertain time, to say the least.

In the simplest of terms, this offseason period is, for multiple teams, a house cleaning. Front office staff and owners talk through what no longer serves their objectives and what transitions or adaptations must be made in order to go into the next season with some positive momentum. All options are on the table. Nobody’s job is safe, really.

It’s a tense time for most involved. But those in the team’s leadership understand that it’s a part of the business. You must reassess every year what needs to remain or go in order to move the organization’s goals forward, particularly if the team has been struggling or is trying to rebuild.

Yet, it’s also important to understand that this evaluative process must also happen at the individual level for you and me. Especially if we consider ourselves to be a Christian, this process actually must happen on an almost daily basis if we are to properly grow and mature into the person God envisions for us to become. Just like with athletic teams, it can be very easy to get comfortable in the way things have been done, to start settling for what is familiar and routine instead of being willing to shake things up a bit or even start over.

Most of us often forget that the journey of walking with Jesus isn’t just about forgiveness of sin or eternal assurance; it’s about transformation — an invitation into a whole new way of life that will undo everything we’ve ever known and move us into something better than we could ever dream.

Ephesians 4 speaks of the necessary process we all must undergo if we are to change into who God wants us to be. There is a taking stock of what no longer serves us — a setting aside of the old ways, the old self, the old desires — and adopting new attitudes, new perspectives, a new self that is reflective of the character and heart of Jesus.

As with anything, this process will involve some pain, sacrifice and surrender. There will be tearing down in order to build back up. What no longer serves you may require you to let go of or walk away from something meaningful. But the end result is that when you keep saying “yes” to God and letting Him transform your life by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2), what remains is something of far greater worth than whatever was stripped away.

What no longer serves you?

— Katherine Singer

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Daily Devotional: Thursday, November 6 – The End Of Yourself

By Sports Spectrum Nov 6, 2025

(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28

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I was sitting in the locker room in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after my fifth bad outing in a row. My ERA had skyrocketed. The season felt lost. And I had no answers. No strength left to give. Physically, I was drained. Emotionally, I was crushed — it felt like my dream was slipping through my fingers. And spiritually, I was as dry as the Albuquerque air.

As an athlete, I believed it was on me to figure it out. It was my job, my livelihood, my identity. I told myself: It’s up to me — my strength, my power, my knowledge. But even as I whispered those words in my mind, I knew deep down I had reached the end of my rope. The lie kept playing on loop: I can fix this if I just try harder. I have what it takes. If I work more, show up earlier, stay later — I can turn it around.

That lie is familiar to a lot of us, isn’t it?

We may trust God in certain parts of life, but when it comes to our sport, we often take back control. We treat God like a cosmic tag-team partner — ready to step in only when we can’t handle things anymore. But that’s not how God works. He’s not waiting on the sideline for your signal. He is always present. The problem isn’t His absence; it’s our awareness.

At the time, it felt like failure. But now, I see something different. Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard says, “Life can only be lived in the moment, but it can only be understood backward.” It wasn’t until nearly a decade later that I truly saw what God had been doing.

In sport — and in faith — one of the hardest things to do is stop making excuses and face the truth about where you are. Not to shame yourself, but to invite growth. To ask: What might God be trying to show me through this?

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Notice, the author Paul doesn’t say all things are good. He doesn’t promise a smooth career or easy life. And he certainly doesn’t say we get to choose the timeline of that goodness. He says God is always working — for our good and His glory.

That means God works in your wins and your losses. In joy and pain. In promotions and demotions. He stands behind you not just to catch your fall, but to redeem your story. And here’s the paradox: Running out of yourself isn’t failure — it’s freedom. When you stop striving to prove you are enough, you can finally rest in the One who is enough.

So step out knowing God has gone before you, walks beside you, and stands behind you. You don’t compete alone, and you never have. Because when you feel like you’ve reached the end of yourself, that’s where you’ll find Him — and He is just getting started.

— Josh Lindblom, Pro Athletes Outreach

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