Athletes

A group of well-known Christian athletes is taking the chance during this time of lockdown to know God deeper and grow spiritually.

Apparently, NFL tight end, Benjamin Watson organized a group for his fellow athletes through “The Fellowship of Christian Athletes” (FCA). And in the first “Huddle Up” episode,  FL quarterback Luke McCown, Los Angeles Rams receiver Brandin Cooks and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, Adam Wainwright gathered together through a conference call. All of them are popular athletes who are outspoken in their Christian faith.

The Discussion

During the discussion of the four athletes, they thought about how to respond in this time of global crisis. Especially that the air may seem to be filled with tangible fear amongst people. And everyone opened up about how they can be a light to this currently fearful world. 

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“We’re looking for ways to respond in love, and ways to be the arms and feet of Christ,” Luke said. “It’s given us an ability to slow down and engage with our kids.”

“As Christians, we are called to be the light,” Adam added. “In this time, there is a lot of negativity around. This is the time that we can spend encouraging others to make us look different.”

The Positive Impact Of Lockdown

Moreover, each one testified about the incredibly positive impact the crisis did both in their family lives and their relationship with God.

“This is intentional. God doesn’t do anything by accident, even all the things that you read about in Job,” Luke explained. “God either ordains or allows every circumstance or situation. He ordains it, meaning that He makes it happen. Or He allows it; He gives permission for it to happen. This is just one of those things.”

“I can’t help but think that we have gotten so busy in our lives, whether it’s just going from ballgame to ballgame or ball practice to ball practice or [taking] the kids to dance recitals and this and that and the other, that there is an element that we are missing.”

Further, Luke reasoned that God is “causing everything to slow down” through the virus lockdown. Pointing out that it gave him more precious time with his family “to pull into each other and engage with one another” deeper.

Adam agreed about having to spend more with the family. But the St. Louis Cardinals pitcher admitted that “having five kids also means that he has to keep a keen eye on the pantry supplies during homeschooling hours.”

“Trying to keep a schedule on the pantry is our thing,” he jokingly said. “Like, no you can’t eat all day long. We need to act like we’re in school!”

“We’ve been playing basketball a lot,” he continued. “Social distancing away from everyone else… but as a family, we’re barely under the 10 limit!”

Bible-Reading

Also, the men shared that Bible-reading became the center-stage of their families during this lockdown. Brandin said that it became his and his wife’s past time to read the Scripture.

“I’ve been challenged to lead in a better way. Going through a bunch of different books…like [studying] Nehemiah and his leadership. It’s been awesome from that aspect because now she knows how to challenge me in a way that she didn’t know how to challenge me before,” Los Angeles Rams receiver said. “I think this time has been very fortunate for that.”

Adam encouraged faithful believers to be grateful for small things and embrace the slower pace of life as well.

“There are just so many distractions that pull us in 12,000 different ways all the time,” he said. But “This is the time that if we are going to make the most of a bad situation, we could use this to really settle down and get our priorities straight.”

Then Brandin added, “We forget how important rest is and how important God makes the art of resting. I think during this time right now, we need to figure out a way to rest. I am not saying lounge around. But I am more so saying rest and what it means to rest in His word, praying and getting that reset button and being restored at a time like this.”

Source: Faithwire

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