WEEK 2- Prerequisites to Confidence

MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.

     9 You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!  10 In little more than a year, you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come.  11 Tremble, you complacent women; shudder, you daughters who feel secure!  Strip off your clothes, put sackcloth around your waists.  12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines 13 and for the land of my people, a land overgrown with thorns and briers — yes, mourn for all houses of     merriment and for this city of revelry.  14 The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, 15 till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a  fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.  16 Justice will dwell in the desert, and righteousness live in the fertile field.  17 The fruit of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.  18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.  19 Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, 20 how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.

Isaiah 32:9-20

What does this passage have to say about confidence?

Why is that important?

TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

1) What does “complacent” (v. 9) mean?  How does a complacent  person act?  About what is he concerned?  About what is he not concerned?

2) Verses 10 and 11 describe people who “feel secure”.  What is the difference between “feeling secure” and security?  Can feelings of security provide confidence?

3) Are you a complacent athlete?  Are you more interested in “feeling good” about yourself than truly playing and competing confidently?

WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

4) Peace, quietness, and confidence are the fruits of what? (v 16-17)   Before justice and righteousness can exist, what must first be poured out?  (v. 15)

5) Is it possible, then, to tell a person to “be confident” and expect them to do that?  What must happen for a person to live and act confidently?

THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.

6) Scripture teaches that justice and righteousness must be present in  order for peace, quietness, and confidence to exist.  Are you a       righteous athlete?  Are you a just athlete?  Is your impact upon your team one of contributing to an environment of peace, quietness, and confidence?

7) In what ways does your team struggle with confidence?.  In the places where you lack confidence (a deeply-rooted belief that applies itself in action), consider whether the problem might be a lack of righteousness or justice.  How can you, as a team member, contribute toward growth in these areas?

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.