The Unseen Victory
Kingdom Athletes believes there are two kinds of victory in this world. We are all very familiar with one particular kind of victory: scoreboards,
statistics, scholarships, and pro contracts; but there is a far greater
co-existing victory. While this victory may be unseen, it carries far more importance through
eternal benefit and character. Like the more well known (and easier to
see) victory, it is to be won or lost in every game and every practice. This
victory is the victory of the
heart. And because it is the essence of the Kingdom of God, this victory (the
victory of the heart) must have our highest priority and our complete devotion each and every day of our life. We know that
in Matthew 6:33 Jesus said “seek first the Kingdom
of God and all these
things will be added unto you”.
To us at Kingdom Athletes this means that as we truly seek to first gain the victory of the hear, it is then the other, more readily seen victory "will be added" unto us. That is why above all things, we strive to first pursue the greater, unseen victory of the
heart.
In basketball, there are six characteristics/elements that contribute to the victory of the heart:
1. Effort ... all-out, 100% in practice, games, and off-season prep.
2. Courage ... perseverance and poise in the face of adversity.
3. Sacrifice ... total surrender of my individual desires and expectations in favor of the best interests of my team.
4. Humility ... all of my abilities are gifts from God to be fully enjoyed but not plagiarized.
5. Forgiveness ... extending mercy to all that may wrong me or disappoint me: teammates, my coach, referees, opponents, myself.
6. Thankfulness ... gratitude to God for the experience of being an athlete. God has promised to fill our cups with ample portions of the more well-known victory so long as we “seek first” the unseen victory!
God has promised to fill our cups with ample portions of the more well-known victory so long as we “seek first” the unseen victory.
1. Effort ... all-out, 100% in practice, games, and off-season prep.
2. Courage ... perseverance and poise in the face of adversity.
3. Sacrifice ... total surrender of my individual desires and expectations in favor of the best interests of my team.
4. Humility ... all of my abilities are gifts from God to be fully enjoyed but not plagiarized.
5. Forgiveness ... extending mercy to all that may wrong me or disappoint me: teammates, my coach, referees, opponents, myself.
6. Thankfulness ... gratitude to God for the experience of being an athlete. God has promised to fill our cups with ample portions of the more well-known victory so long as we “seek first” the unseen victory!
God has promised to fill our cups with ample portions of the more well-known victory so long as we “seek first” the unseen victory.