Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Proverbs 4:27

Our daughter “C.A.” plays golf for The University of Kentucky and she’s gearing up for

an exciting Spring season. She spends numerous hours, every day, practicing her sport.

But golf (like life) is hard and especially stressful at the division 1 collegiate level where

the competition is so stiff. One of the greatest challenges for any athlete is keeping

positive self-talk and fighting off the temptation to sulk when things don’t go our way.

Yes, there will always be the worldly temptations of indulgence towards power, money

and sex that we mentioned yesterday. However, there is an “evil” that seeks to destroy

our hearts in the opposite direction and that is the evil of self-pity, self-absorption and

despair. We are especially susceptible to this temptation when we face trials or witness

our friends and loved ones deal with intense suffering. So how do we “keep our hearts”

in the midst of intense sorrow and confusion? How do we “turn our foot away” from this

kind of evil? How do we keep from “swerving into despair?”

It’s interesting, as I’ve watched C.A. practice this winter, she’s started taking our new

puppy dog, “Nelly” with her to practice. Typically, between swings, C.A. would be

walking to the next shot with just her thoughts. However, she’s started carrying Nelly

with her on the course. Instead of being alone with her self-talk, C.A. has started

receiving puppy kisses between each shot. And let’s be honest, it’s just hard to feel bad

about yourself when you getting licked in the face by an adorable miniature Australian

Labradoodle. C.A’s newly found discipline of “giving and receiving love” between each

shot has helped keep her from negative self-talk and self-pity when she is playing

poorly.

Equally impossible, is feeling bad about ourselves when we are constantly giving and

receiving love with the God on the universe who created us in His image. We keep our

hearts by abiding daily in the love of Jesus through His Word and by sensing His Holy

Spirit within us. Take some time this week and read Psalm 42 and look at how King

David handled his “downcast soul.” It is a roadmap for keeping our heart in the midst of

deep sorrow.

Q: How consistent is your daily giving and receiving of love with God each day?

Q: Read John 15:5. What can you do to abide more consistently in Christ?

By Jimmy Carter

Your Daily Missions Moment:

Pray for these missionaries today:



Pray for Joel and Beth: who are working in Central Asia (Last names withheld for their security)

Pray for Drake and Haley: who are working in the middle east and north Africa.(Last names withheld for their security)

Pray for Carol Spears: medical missionary in Kenya.