We use a term in football called "buying in", meaning the player has to believe in the philosophy, the playbook and the way the coach does things. By buying in, the player and the team will have success based on the coach's system. Therefore, the player has to give himself to the team, separate from old things and transform his mind. The transforming process is a continual one, longer for some than for than others. It just does not happen overnight. I had some guys that bought into the coaching philosophy right away. There were others I had to nurture and make believers out of. The "buy in" was just the beginning.
In football, having success as an individual is all about playing the right "position" and being in the right "position". This is not easy because we all have habits. "Bad habits" in football are those which impede guys from having consistent success or sustaining that success. Many times it was habits they had brought from their high school playing experiences. They were sometimes selfish and wanted to do things their way. They thought their way was better than the coach's way. You know the old adage, "Business as usual". They did not want to give up how they thought about or did certain things.
Without being too technical, a coach may ask his wide receiver to put his inside foot up when lined up in his stance. However, the player may think having his outside foot up is better because it is what he has always done and he is comfortable with it. Or, the coach tells the quarterback to throw the ball to the slant route in cover 2, but he wants to throw the hitch. In both cases, after having no success in doing it their way, they try the coach's way and experience success. It may take the quarterback throwing the hitch in cover 2 and it being intercepted for him to believe in what the coach is coaching him to do. If they choose not to continue to follow the guidance and direction of the coach, they revert back to their old ways. When a player realizes that doing it his way is not better than doing it the coach's way, they put themselves in position for success. Moreover, they have sustained success just by being in the right position. They realize that having success takes more than just having athletic ability and talent. Those things will only get you so far.
Let's take our walk with God. When a person becomes a Christian, they have to be willing to give, separate and be transformed. They must be willing to give of themselves completely, to God, and separate from old things (people) transforming their mind into the likeness of God. They have to "buy in" to God's word, the Bible, and the way God does things.
By "buying in", he or she will have success in their walk with God. The transforming process is a continual one, longer for some more than others. It just does not happen overnight. I believe some Christians "buy in" right away. Others have to be nurtured and God has to make believers out of them.
In Christ, having success is one thing but being blessed is another. I believe it is all about being in the right "position". This is not easy because we all have baggage and habits that we must be willing to shed ourselves of. I believe these things will keep God's hands tied from blessing us with the abundance. Many times the baggage has been brought from previous relationships and/or experiences. It can be that we are simply being selfish in wanting to do things our way, thinking our way is better than God's way. It can also be through harboring unforgiveness (persons who did us wrong), gossiping, not paying tithes because we think the pastor is out to get our money or not spending time with God outside of our weekly church requirements. However, unlike the coach, I believe God will not force you to do anything.
I believe if we will rid ourselves of ourselves and truly give it all to God we can become all that He wants us to become. In other words, if we get in "position", God will bless us beyond our imagination. "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 'Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour you out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.'" (Mal. 3:10 NIV)
When are you going to stop doing it your way and start doing it God's way? What has God asked you to do?
Get in position-
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