by Shannon Caughey

What is your perspective as a coach? Do you find yourself consumed with winning such that your perspective is colored by what happened in the last game? Do you tend to focus on what’s wrong with your athletes, your team, and your circumstances? Do you struggle to have a vision for anything bigger than just making it through the day or week?

The start of a new year is a great opportunity to embrace a new perspective that can renew you and your coaching. In Colossians, Paul writes about several dimensions of the “newness” that characterizes followers of Jesus. We saw in the previous devotion that we receive new life when we respond in faith to Christ. Let’s turn now to Colossians 3:1-2 where Paul addresses the change in perspective that is to come with our new life: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”

As followers of Christ, we are to “set [our] sights on the realities of heaven.” In the original Greek of the New Testament, this phrase is more literally “seek the things above.” These “things above” or “realities of heaven” refer to the realm where the Lord’s reign is fully realized. This is “where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” Jesus is enthroned in honor and glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords. We are then to aspire to what aligns with Christ’s rule: his kingdom values, characteristics, and priorities. 

How do we do this? “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” It requires a change in perspective. We turn our focus away from earthly things that do not align with Christ’s kingdom. Instead, we reorient our minds around Jesus and what it means to live and coach under his rule as our King. We take on a new perspective—focused on the values, characteristics, and priorities of Jesus’ kingdom—and this transformed mindset leads to Christ-honoring words and actions.

Here’s an example of what this means: Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all that we are and to love other people well (Mark 12:29-31). A kingdom perspective moves us to consider things like, “Does my attitude toward athletes/parents/officials reflect love for God and love for them? Do the words I’m about to speak demonstrate love for God and love for those listening? Am I loving God and loving people well whether I have competitive success or my team just suffered a tough loss?”

Coach, if you recognize your perspective has been influenced more by the things of earth than the things of heaven, the start of the new year is the chance for you to be a “new coach.” Commit to daily praying, “Lord, help me to seek you and set my mind on what your kingdom is about throughout this day.” Keep filling your mind with God’s Word so that you are deepening your understanding of Christ and his reign. 

If you have put your faith in Jesus, you have new life in him. Embrace the new, Christ-centered perspective that comes with this new life. 

For reflection: Take some time right now to ask the Lord to help you seek him and set your mind on him. Where God is convicting you of earthly perspectives, repent of this and pray for a kingdom mindset that honors Christ.