Week 1 Devotional | Hope

HOPE

“Something good is going to happen to me and through me.”

Read the Zero Week Devotional on Endurance by clicking here.

What is HOPE?

HOPE is expecting that something good is going to happen to you. It is the belief that the future will be better than the present, along with the belief that you have the power to make it so. Hope is a positive attitude and a positive mindset that can push you through and past the tough times. When we start a new season, or a new team, or a new week, or a new practice, it would help our performance, mentally and physically, if we had high levels of HOPE and believed that great things are going to happen to us and through us.

Tell yourself, daily, “Something good is going to happen to me and through me.”

HOPE doesn’t mean that we won’t face obstacles, adversity, and difficult moments. The Bible is filled with stories of people facing difficult trials and overcoming them. One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of Joseph. Joseph was the father of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and one of the 12 sons of Jacob. Joseph was called the ‘Beloved Son’ because he was so loved by his father. He was also hated by his brothers, and they sold him into slavery, and he eventually ended up in an Egyptian prison. But Joseph never lost HOPE, and he never lost faith in God.

Joseph became one of the most respected and highest-ranking people in Egypt. 

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

 

Doubt and negativity block and steal hope. The Bible says that the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, but Jesus says that He came so that we can have life and live life to the full (John 10:10). Expect negative thoughts and feelings to creep in. That is okay and normal. Just have a plan for restoring and keeping your HOPE when they do.

When you feel down or hopeless in any way, you need a resurrection of belief, a positive attitude, and a plan. You can make the decision to be HOPEFUL, and deciding to have HOPE releases joy and positive energy. It gives you the push you need to keep going. Choose HOPE and positivity, not negativity.

The HOPEFUL athlete refuses to be negative. They know that life isn’t perfect and that they won’t win every race or every competition or every game. The HOPEFUL athlete lives with enough HOPE that they try to and compete to win every race, competition, and game. HOPEFUL athletes recognize and deal with the storms of life while remaining HOPEFUL in their thoughts, their words, and their actions. They know that something good is always ready to happen to them and through them. They don’t wait for a special moment or a special game or senior night to have hope. They decide to be HOPEFUL every day because being HOPEFUL is a happier and more effective way to live life.

This Week

This week, read Romans 12. It is a great chapter on how to live a Godly life. Find a verse that you can connect with. A few good places to start are verse 2, verse 9, and verse 21.

What can you do when you start to feel down?

1 - Do something for someone else.

2 - Think about something good in your life.

3 - Think about something you do well for your team.

4 - Think about something that makes you excited.

5 - Write down a skill or drill that you want to get better at, and write down a plan or a habit that you can start to improve at that skill or drill.

6 - Go for a run, stretch, or a workout. Don’t be slothful. Be fervent in spirit.

What are three things that you are HOPEFUL about?

1 - 

2 - 

3 - 

What is one HOPEFUL habit that you can commit to this week?

1 - 

What is one thing or distraction that can keep you from getting what you want this week?

1 - 

What can you do to overcome that barrier?

1 - 

Remember:

If you want to be a Christian leader, then stay happy and HOPEFUL no matter what. Your HOPE, joy, and energy give other people a reason to follow you.

Every day you have to decide to have a Godly attitude and stay full of HOPE. If you do, no devil or obstacle can hold you down or defeat you. Life and sports aren’t perfect. Sometimes it is hard and hurts. But, the God of your HOPE will fill you with joy and peace.

(Thank you to Joyce Meyer for the inspiration this week)

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