WEEK 15- Inspiring Confidence in Others

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

     A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.  Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.  She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.  She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.  She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.  She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.  She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.  She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.  In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the    spindle with her fingers.  She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.  When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.  She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.  Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.  She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.  She is clothed with strength and    dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and  faithful instruction is on her tongue.  She watches over the affairs of her  household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:10-31

What does this passage have to say about confidence?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) What qualities of the wife cause her husband to be confident?  (Need some help?  Here’s a list to help guide your team through the passage.  v. 12 - commitment to doing good (loving others), v. 13 - eagerness to work, v. 14 - goes “above and beyond”, v. 15 - persevering and selfless,  v. 16 - wise, v. 17 - strong and prepared for her work, v. 18 - watchful, aware, and discerning, v. 20 - recognizes and meets the needs of others,   v. 21 - prepared and works hard to be so, v. 25 - strong, honorable and upright, free of worry, v. 26 - leads Biblically, able to teach, v. 27 - hard-working and attentive, v. 28 - joyful and inspires that in    others, v. 30 - fears the Lord.)

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

2) How can each of these qualities (look back to yesterday’s list) impact the confidence of others?  Do you inspire confidence in your teammates in these ways?  Which quality is one that you’d especially like to possess?

3) Pray with your team that God would examine and change your heart,  identify your shortcomings in convicting ways, and develop this discipline in your life.  How will you commit to submitting yourself to His discipline?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

4) Ask others to hold you accountable in specific ways (related to your prayers and goals from yesterday), and be intentional in encouraging one another in your efforts.

5) What changes will you begin to make, and in what ways will you spend time in fellowship with God to receive His challenge and encouragement?

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.