Game Plan

4-22-2009

For those of you that know me personally, or have heard me speak, you will often hear me say, “Have an approach.” More specifically, have a “systematic approach.” In other words have a game plan. As a former professional pitcher, I didn’t simply grab the baseball and throw it over the plate. Before every game, I did some research on the team I was pitching against, and I knew each and every hitters strengths and weaknesses. By doing my homework, I was able to formulate my game plan (approach). If I knew certain hitters liked inside fastballs, I worked them away and/or threw off speed pitches.

For those of you that don’t know anything about baseball, allow me to use shopping as an example of needing a game plan. If you are smart, you don’t simply go to the store. First, you look and see what you need, and some of you probably make a written list of what you need. The next step in the game plan is to go to the store. Once you get to the store, the store itself has a systematic approach so you can find what you are looking for as fast as possible. Certain foods are put into certain rows, and most stores even have signs to guide you from isle to isle. This may sound silly, but this systematic approach makes shopping easier.

If it makes sense to have a game plan for sports, shopping, driving, hiking, vacationing, and etcetera, doesn’t it make sense to have a systematic approach with your spiritual life? What is your game plan for personal development? Trust me, if you don’t have a game plan in place to track your personal development and spiritual progression, you are missing the catalyst to reaching your God given potential in life! I want to encourage you to stop the busyness of life and focus at least 10 minutes every day on growing YOU! If you want to be the best dad, husband, wife, son, daughter, student, boss, employee, you can be, it starts with YOU!

In Psalm 143, we hear David crying out in the midst of hopelessness and depression. He is hiding in a cave from Saul as fear had led him into hiding. Once David realizes the first step in any systematic approach is to call out to God for guidance and deliverance, David gets back on track. Think back to a situation in your life where you felt like David. It may be now? Take out the panic, lift up your prayers to God, and game plan!

I am honored that you choose to read this devotional every day, and I pray it is making an impact in your life. If any of you would like for me to do a devotional on anything specific, or something you don’t completely understand, please shoot me an email and we will do so as soon as possible. We will keep your questions and emails completely anonymous. Email me at lstout@loganstout.com.

Application:
1. Read Psalm 143
2. What areas of your life need structure (finances, spiritual journey, relationships, etc.)?