Ephesians 1:16, 17 – “I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.”
We’re tempted to think we’d be better coaches if we knew more in-game strategy or if we knew more ways to help our athletes develop improved skills or conditioning. This is helpful knowledge. However, if we want our coaching to have an eternal impact, far more important is this: continually growing in the knowledge of God.
The “knowledge of God” that Paul in Eph. 1 speaks about is a personal, relational knowing. It’s drawing close to God in a deep relationship that results in great confidence in God and God’s work in and through us. When our faith is in Christ, through his Word and his Spirit who dwells in us God gives us the wisdom and insight to know him more. When we’re growing in our closeness to God through regular time with him in the Scriptures and in prayer, we’ll know his heart for how to be a transformational coach to the athletes we lead.
That puts us way ahead in the game that matters most: making our lives count for God’s glory! So here’s what we’re praying for you, Coach: that you’d grow in your knowledge of God.