Relationship or Routine?

A few weeks ago, I got to attend the lunch huddle at BUHS, and of the leaders was sharing her testimony. I'll try to do it justice, but I want to share a small portion of what she said.

"I'll be the first to admit that I have a good life. I don't worry about having food on the table or shelter over my head. I have loving parents that are still married and have served in ministry for a large part of my life. I have a good life", is how she started.

She then explained how that all changed recently when her father was diagnosed with cancer. She asked God why and was taken aback by how much his diagnosis shook her faith. It challenged her reality and made her look closely at her relationship with God, and then she said something that I had to stop and write down.

"Through all of it, I had to come to the realization that I didn't have a relationship with God; I had a routine"!

I know, right?

What high school student comes to that realization?

She explained to her peers that she had a routine. She prayed, read her Bible when to church, served, and did everything she was supposed to do. However, when her faith was tested, she realized that it wasn't to further her relationship with God. It was out of routine. I know we can ask so many follow-up questions, and the inner critic comes out. We are supposed to pray and read our Bible. Are you saying that's bad, Juan?

No, I'm not. We should do all of those things. We encourage our athletes to get plugged in with a local church, pray and read their Bible. However, we also need to understand the why. So often, we do things out of habit or go through our list.

Church, check.

Bible Reading Plan, check.

Prayer for Food, check.

As an athlete:

Warm up, check

Practice, check.

Games, check.

And then something happens in life, and we find ourselves alone and surrounded by Darkness, asking where God is. I did all the things and went through the list. We know about God, but we don't know God. I encourage you to see after HIM and dig deep to further your knowledge of Him and, more importantly, build your relationship with Him.

We see the same thing on the court, field, and gym. The athlete that does it because they have to or because it's expected vs. the athlete that is passionate about the game and desires to learn and grow.

Are you seeking God passionately?

Do you have a relationship or a routine?

Will you please continue to pray for our different campuses and our student leaders who so boldly stand before their peers and share their hearts on a weekly basis?