READY:
SET:
A big part of coaching is undoing previous bad habits. Young athletes learn a skill incorrectly and now it has to be removed or pruned from their skill set. I once had a player who dribbled the basketball straight to the right corner every time she came down the court. Every. Single. Time.
We had to prune that habit. Removing it and replacing it with different skills to help her and the team move the basketball successfully toward the hoop. It took time and patience and a lot of repetition but ultimately by removing the bad habit her skills as a basketball player improved.
That is often how pruning works. Something has to be removed in order for new, better things to grow. In Colossians 3 Paul asks that they put away some things so they can put on some new, better things.
“But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. . . . Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Above all put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” — Colossians 3:8-9; 12; 14
Certain things have to be pruned, like anger and lies, so that compassion and gentleness can grow. Both things cannot be growing in our lives at the same time. When we remain in Jesus we gladly allow Him to prune our lives so the new self can grow – so fruit can flourish.
GO:
- What has your experience been with removing bad skill habits from players?
- What is something you think needs to be pruned from your life? Pray and ask for guidance and wisdom during that process.
WORKOUT:
OVERTIME:
“Lord, I know I have things that need to be pruned in my life. May I be open to allowing that process to happen. Guide me in that process. As I help prune things on our team, give me words and wisdom to help shape these young athletes into fruitful players and people. In Jesus’ name, amen.”