Whether a coach or an athlete on the team, when they watch film, they are watching to see how the team played individually and collectively. Watching film creates both pressure and fear. The team is about to see, with the clearest form of proof, where they went wrong and how they messed up, play after play after play. This happens after each game because the coach knows the athletes will never play perfectly.
The result of film day? The coach can talk through what went wrong, how it can be fixed and how it can be avoided. This allows room for examination of what was, and improvement for what can be.
This exact same thing happens in our hearts.
Imagine if God put us in a room, turned on the TV and played our last week back to us. We would see what we did, what we said, what we thought and how we acted. In this moment, we might be saddened by what we saw and shocked by how sinful and corrupt we were.
But God? He would not be surprised or shocked at all, because He already knows everything about our past, present and future.
“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away… You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.” (Psalm 139:1-4)
We may not exactly sit down and watch film with God, but we do examine our hearts with Him. And He gives us a few pointers on how to make the best of our examination time together.
Watch Film and Take Notes
We should examine our hearts to find the sin and see where we went wrong. This finding leads to conviction, because sin is rebellion against God, and God hates sin.
“Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.” (1 John 3:4)
“O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.” (Psalm 5:4)
Hear Correction and Encouragement
From the beginning, God knew how sinful and messed up we would be, so He sent His Son to die for our sins so that we could be made right and saved.
God is offering to take our mess, cleanse it and align us back with Himself.
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies.” (Romans 5:8-10)
Ask for Help
We should seek God’s guidance in how to “play” this life correctly. Just as a coach coaches his or her team, God coaches us. God leads us through 66 books of His Word, through the life His Son set on this earth and through the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we see how we are to live, we know we could never do it on our own, and we call out to God for help to make this possible.
God is offering to take our mess, cleanse it and align us back with Himself. When we see the mess inside our own hearts, it may seem like a daunting task, but having confidence and trust that Jesus came to cleanse and align us to God’s ways should leave us with peace. When we release our heart into the hands of the One who created it, the result of us saying “yes” is a rush of calm that washes over us. Nothing is better than the presence of perfect peace.
One way to open your heart and Pursue Life is with FCA’s The CORE. Get eight essentials to strengthen your faith and grow in your relationship with Christ, and then put it into action to disciple others.
Want to learn more about pursuing life and growing your relationship with God? Head to FCA in Action and read our May Pursue articles:
Anchor Article: Be Intentional: Examine Your Heart
*If you read this article and aren’t in relationship with Christ yet but would like to know more, we invite you to go through FCA’s The FOUR that explains how an everlasting and fulfilling life with God is possible.
About the Author:
Arbor Diggs is an Area Representative for Knoxville FCA in Tennessee. She works with high school female student athletes and coaches in her area. She mentors, disciples, leads Huddles and manages the social media and all graphic designs for her area. From age 3-21 she trained in ballet, eventually leading her to become a soloist ballet dancer for her company. Her husband Adam is also on staff with FCA. Coffee and warm weather makes her happy, as does telling stories about God and His people to the world.
Connect with her at aphillips@fca.org and get involved with her ministry and support Greater Knoxville FCA HERE.
-FCA-
Photo courtesy of Unsplash