Swing the Bat
by C.A. Phillips
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22
As a former baseball coach and parent, I was aggravated. I was umpiring a middle school baseball game, when a batter stood and watched three perfect pitches across the heart of the plate. The pitcher wasn't throwing gas. Quite the opposite. He was lollipopping the ball around 55-60MPH. No, these were not breaking balls. These were "fastballs," if I would dare use that word.The kid in the batter's box looked the part, mind you. He had the wrap-around shades, the elbow guard, the shin guard, the Evo Shield wristbands, and the "baserunner's mitt" (designed to protect the hand of someone sliding into a base) rolled up and sticking out of his back pocket. He waggled the bat and scraped the bottom of his cleats across the dirt as he stepped in the box. But, three perfect pitches later he was retreating to the dugout.I was positioned behind the plate, and couldn't help but shake my head after I punched him out on strike three. I thought to myself, "Swing the bat! Why are you even here if you aren't going to swing the bat!?!?"Over the past couple weeks since that night, I've wondered if God often says the same thing to me from time to time. I wonder if I look the part and say the right things, but miss opportunities He has waiting for me because I am just happy to "play the game."God is all-powerful. But, He chooses to use us - not for His benefit, but so we will learn to trust Him more and more. He asked Moses to grab the snake by the tail before He turned it into his staff. He asked Joshua to march around Jericho for seven days before the walls came crumbling down. He asked Abraham to leave everything he had ever known and embark on a new journey before He ever handed down the covenant that he would be the father of the nation of His chosen people.I'm a lifelong Atlanta Braves fan. The organization recently unveiled the City Connect uniforms, where the greatest Brave of all-time was honored in the design. Under the bill of the cap is the phrase, Keep Swinging. This is a nod to one of Hank Aaron's famous quotes:“My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.”And, that's what God wants us to do. Keep swinging. Don't be complacent. Don't get discouraged. Don't become cynical. There's a difference between knowing and doing. Keep swinging, and trust that the Holy Spirit will be working in and through you, despite your circumstances or perceived roadblocks.SUBSCRIBE TO "OVER THE HUMP" DEVOTIONAL
C.A. Phillips is a lifelong sports enthusiast and youth baseball coach, and currently serves as the Communications Pastor and Director of Men's Groups at NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, Ga. He lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and his two sons, Chaz and Chandler.
Imagine that you could sit down and pick the brains of some of the top leaders in the country! That's the premise behind the Linch with a Leader podcast. Learn how these leaders - all among the best in their respective field - have risen to the top, while continuing to grow spiritually and chase after the Lord.
