“Knowing Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me, although winning the US Open was a pretty good second.”

Alison Nicholas

Lessons from David and Goliath

Sometimes we struggle with what to pray for athletes before a race. Sometimes athletes struggle with what to pray for themselves. I really struggle when it is a race where I know several athletes and want them to all to win! What, in any case is the effect on a race of my prayers?/p>

I could line up in a 100 metre race with Usain Bolt and have all the Christians in the world praying for me but I don’t think I would win because I am not capable of running fast enough./p>

David seemed to get the balance right in his preparation for the fight with Goliath. He is relying on God but he has done his training too. One commentator* wrote: “David holds together his confidence in himself and his confidence in God, seeing the two as interwoven. He is not a mere shepherd boy who has no experience of fighting. He fought lions and bears and lived to tell the tale.”/p>

I have no doubt that the reason David was so accurate with his sling was that he had spent hours and hours and hours practising. That gave him the confidence that he could compete under pressure. At the same time he knew he needed God’s presence./p>

As you compete, try to get that balance right of believing in your ability, your training and your preparation while realizing that God is with you and he is in control./p>

*John Goldingay, 1 and 2 Samuel for everyone

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