God's Coaching #355

God's Coaching #355

No team is unbeatable. But for several years, the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team sure seemed unstoppable. On December 21, 2010, UConn won its 89th straight game with a 93–62 blowout of Florida State, giving the Huskies the all-time record for consecutive wins at the college level—men or women. Legendary coach John Wooden and his UCLA men’s program had held the previous record of 88 games between 1971 and 1974 while they were in the middle of an unmatched streak of seven straight national championships. UCLA’s 88-game mark was thought by many college basketball insiders to be a virtually unbreakable record.

But coach Geno Auriemma’s Huskies were a rare breed (no dog pun intended). UConn’s last loss before the streak started was on April 6, 2008, in the NCAA Tournament semifinals against Stanford. During their record-breaking span, the Huskies steamrolled opponents. Only twice during that time did they beat an opponent by less than 10 points. UConn finally lost two games later against Stanford, ending its streak at 90 games, but that didn’t tarnish the Huskies’ amazing accomplishment.

What’s the Score?

No team can win that many consecutive games without a sharp focus on its goal. It’s no different in the Christian life. To be most effective in God’s Kingdom, we have to know what our goals are. This leads to the question, What is the main goal for all Christians? It’s simple: to glorify God. That’s what we were created to do.

We glorify God by obeying him and by using the special abilities God has given us to bring him praise. We were created to worship and glorify God. So ask yourself, What is my game plan to glorify God? Too many Christians are on cruise control. Are you just coasting through life with no real direction or goal? Are things like TV, video games, friends, or other earthly concerns more important to you than God is? It’s time to get focused like those UConn Huskies. Find out where God has gifted you, and use those skills for his glory.

On the Ball

Create an acrostic with the word focus or goal to list some specific ways you can glorify God with your gifts. (An acrostic is where a word’s letters are used to form a list of other words.) Here’s an example using the word goal:

Go help elderly neighbor with yard work.

Opt to memorize Scripture.

Ask God to make me more like Jesus.

Listen to and obey parents.

Coach’s Comment

Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them. Isaiah 43:7