God's Coaching #275

God's Coaching #275

Balancing on a surfboard to ride the waves is hard enough. Just imagine how difficult it is to stand up on a surfboard, holding a long paddle and rowing in rough ocean waters. For Danny Ching of Redondo Beach, California, standing on an 18-foot surfboard with a paddle in his hands looked as natural as riding a bike. Danny showed off his stand-up paddling skills on this day in 2010 at the Battle of the Paddle competition in Dana Point, California.

Danny defeated 159 other elite athletes in a five-mile, four-lap race. To make things more difficult, competitors had to paddle into the beach and run a 100-yard sprint between each lap. Danny took the lead early and never gave it up, winning the competition in 57 minutes and 45 seconds. Australian Jamie Mitchell stayed close to Danny most of the race, but he ended up losing by nearly two minutes.

What’s the Score?

Danny said his plan to win the Battle of the Paddle was to take the lead from the start. He knew in a race with this many competitors that he didn’t want to get caught in the pack. Danny had been training for a 32-mile ocean canoe race the following weekend, so his strength showed as he got to the front and stayed there the entire time.

As Christians, we shouldn’t want to be in the pack either. God called many different individuals to lead in the Bible. After Moses, God chose Joshua to lead his people into the Promised Land. Joshua had trained to be a leader by watching Moses and trusting God. God’s words to Joshua were straight to the point: “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people” (Joshua 1:6).

To be a leader, you have to show strength and courage. That’s what Danny did to win the race. And that’s what Joshua did in leading God’s people into the land God promised them.

On the Ball

How do you show leadership? Write down a couple of ways:

Think about times when it’s important to show leadership. Maybe it’s when you’re in a group and people are making bad choices. When you have a plan, it’s easier to stand up and be a leader.

Coach’s Comment

Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Joshua 1:6