Winning Ways
They said I was too small, that I didn’t have the strength, that I wouldn’t cut it. It has been tough. Sometimes I still feel that I don’t have the height or strength to go out and compete against the bigger guys.
But I found it takes a lot more than physical size or strength to make it in life – both on and off the court. Having a relationship with God makes all the difference.
What is the meaning of life?
At 15 years of age, I was doing a lot of searching. I was wondering what the meaning of life was and was trying to find myself. I had a lot of questions.
I became a Christian in 1988. My grandparents had given me a Bible that they asked me to read every day. On one particular evening, I decided to take a good look at it and see what it had to say. I found the Bible to be true, expressing incredible love and peace through the life of Jesus Christ. I eventually accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
Touching people’s lives
When I won the 1989 French Open, my first Grand Slam title, I was only 17. This came much earlier than my family and I ever dreamed. I never expected it, and I don’t think anyone else in the tennis world expected it either.
It might have been easy to let my head swell or to get caught up in the money, fame and glamour of winning. I am thankful that I was able to stay focused on Jesus and not follow those things. I believe I was meant to be in that position to touch people’s lives in a positive way.
God-given ability
I also consider it fortunate that I became a Christian the first year that I was on the Tour. Before all the fame and money, I learned about the Lord and how He wanted me to live. It is wonderful to be able to look back at my life before I was a Christian and see how the Lord was looking out for me.
I know God is the one who gave me the ability to play tennis. I would not be where I am without Him giving me the strength to play the way I do. When I keep this perspective, I am able to compete with the mindset that winning and losing is up to God. What is important is giving it my best. I may win or I may lose, but when I keep my focus on Him, I always have the joy He alone can give.
I have confidence knowing that everything is in His hands. I see so many things happening in my life that I know are not just mere coincidence. I know that the Lord loves me and that He will always be looking out for me, no matter what happens.
Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?
Living with hope
If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.
Is this the life for you?
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.
I think a player shoud ask God to let him play his best, to be a good sport, that know one gets hurt and to bless his team according to His will. Then thank Him.
I did forget to say that if The Spirit moves a player to thank God after a play there is nothing wrong with that as long as they’re not disrupting a game.