WEEK 12- Overflowing with Confidence

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

     5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.  6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.  I will ever praise you.  7 I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.  8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.

     14 But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.  15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.  16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.  17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.  18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

     19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things.  Who, O God, is like you?  20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.  21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

     22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.  23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you — I, whom you have redeemed.  24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.

Psalm 71:5-8,14-24

What does this passage have to say about confidence?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) The Psalmist declares that God has been “my confidence since my youth” (v. 5).  What is the Psalmist’s response to God’s blessings and faithfulness to him in the past? (v. 6)  What is the Psalmist’s response to God throughout each day? (v. 8)  What is the Psalmist’s response to God in the midst of things he does not fully understand (“though I know not its measure” - v. 15)?  To what other sources of goodness and blessing in his life does the Psalmist give credit, as the basis for his confidence? (v. 16)

2) Is your confidence reflected in your speech?  Do you consistently give God praise for your successes, and do you give Him praise amidst your struggles and failures?  Does your team thank God after wins and losses?  Do others who hear the speech of your team identify you as a team that loves and serves Christ?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

3) As the Psalmist looks toward his old age, what does he make a commitment to do? (v. 18)

4) How is your confidence impacting younger teammates, siblings, and other who might look up to you?  How will the nature of your confidence impact others who watch the way you live and listen to the words you speak?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

5) In verse 22, what does the Psalmist use to praise God?  As a musician uses his instrument and voice to praise and honor God, what should an athlete use to glorify God?  How are you doing so in your athletic activities?  How is your team doing so?

6) Do you believe that God cares about what you do as an athlete (and how well you do it)?  What does a half-hearted effort (use of your gifts) declare about your attitude toward the Giver of those gifts?

FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of confidence and pray together.

· Ask your athletes to briefly reflect on what they’ve learned about  confidence this week, and to repeat some of those things.  (Remind them of some of the Biblical truths about confidence you’ve discussed, if     necessary.)

· Ask your team, “Based on what we learned about confidence this week...What does a confident athlete do?”  Do not settle for vague answers; challenge your athletes to go beyond general qualities of  confidence, and to determine what those qualities look like in action.

· Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “confident  athlete”, and be sure the list is displayed somewhere that is constantly  visible, as a reminder to the team.

· Pray together as a team.  Encourage your athletes to pray for your team’s growth in regard to the discipline of confidence — especially in relation to some of the issues and challenges that you discussed together this week.  Challenge them to also ask for forgiveness, when applicable. Give time for athletes to request prayer (regarding confidence or anything else), and pray together.