How Do You Know? (Part 1)

My first season of coaching has now come to an end and what an enjoyable and successful season it was too. Our last game, our annual derby game, against another local school ended the season. It was a match the team lost last year by 19 points, but I knew they were significantly better this year and I challenged them to reverse the result and win by 19. A tall ask, but one that I felt confident they could do. Yes, there were no guarantees and so my confidence was mixed with anxiety that it all could go wrong on the day. I had quietly expressed my confidence to my co-coach, wife and close friends and so they lived my “anxious confidence” leading up to the match with me. The day arrived, and I was a ball of nerves. The match started with us immediately being pushed into our own 22, giving away a penalty and going down 3-0. Then began the battle for supremacy and at halftime we were 3-5 up. The 2nd half started with guns blazing from both teams but soon our ascendancy began to take effect and we went on to win the match 3-33. A winning margin of 30 points!!

I was asked by a number of folk; “How did you know that you could win and comfortably too?”

I answered them, but before I share my answer with you let me express that I had followed a process for my own life just 6-8 months earlier asking myself some of the same questions I asked of this team. If the questions I asked could change my life and bring me such joy, greater life satisfaction, significance and assurance that I am in the will of God, then surely the template should work for the team. In fact, the reason I started coaching rugby this year was as a result of this process.

Right now, how do you know if you are in the will of God? Are you honoring Him by living out the plan He designed for your life or are you on a detour? When I asked myself that question 8 months ago my immediate answer was an emphatic “Yes! I am in the will of God.” I was living out my dream and fulfilling prophetic words that had been spoken over my life from years ago. But, because it was customary for me to do a self-audit every 2-3 years I decided to “confirm” my answer by going through the audit process.

Initially I found it really hard to take the task seriously. With my strong assumption that I was already in the will of God coupled with the busyness of life I wasn’t prepared to give too much time to something I already thought I had an answer to. I kept defaulting to my existing lifestyle choices. It took a wise Sage to interrupt my default pattern with this statement and question: “You are busy with many Godly projects and activities Gavin, but what is your good work?” This challenging question was taken from a few verses in the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah turned down a meeting with some influential men stating that he had a good work that he was busy with and couldn’t let it stop to meet with them. With all the activities, projects and works that I was involved in which of them was actually the “good work” that I was called to do? Which good work couldn’t stop and had to go on regardless?

What is your good work?

Let’s return to my u15 rugby team for a moment. The lead time from my introduction to the team to our first game, was as all coaches say, insufficient. As a result, the idea of going with last year’s starting team and their positions was exceptionally appealing. I remembered from my self-audit, that if I didn’t look for each player’s “good work” our results would be the same as the previous year. I strongly resisted the temptation and went about analyzing the strengths of each one of the players. I looked at their knowledge of the game, pace, explosive ability, skills, body size, temperament, decision making and natural fitness levels; and on the outcome of this analysis positioned the best players in the best positions for them. Needless to say, there was some change in the playing personnel, but the biggest change was in the players positions. We went on to explain to the players how each one’s strength and ability would contribute to the team’s overall success. Our game-plan was based on the strengths of our players and their ability to make decisions on the field to work with one another. Each one needed to know their position and how it contributed to the overall picture. Once this was explained to them, they were not only assured of their new positions but excited by the prospect of what could happen. They were now positioned to do a good work on the field.

To determine our good work, we have to know what our strengths are, what skill sets we have that produce near perfect performance and whether we are suitably positioned to execute those strengths and skill sets.

Although this is only part one of the journey with more to come in my next few emails, why not consider joining us at Cape Vidal from 14-16 September to reflect on “Your Good Work”, to be assured that you are presently in Gods will. The first step of many is to determine if you are suitably positioned based on the gifting set that God has given you. Let us help you with that. Your good work will speak directly to the raw natural talent that our Father has given you.