Mindy Lee Hopman

Everyone Has a Dream

The Olympics are every athlete’s dream, and this Olympic season is no different! We watched the trials and we are excited about the teams. Our eyes are now on the athletes and coaches as they represent their respective countries. We love hearing the stories of how they got there. How many nights do you think they lay awake pondering if they would qualify? How excited are the coaches who get to be there? And how many sacrifices have the spouses and children made? There is much anticipation in the air! 

For many people, this is a dream come true. Although most of us will not be Olympic athletes, we all have dreams, goals, and aspirations of making it to that next level! For some, it’s putting together that perfect team of players. For others, it’s finding the friends or teammates you need to tackle this game called “life!” 

The Psalms help us keep our focus on what is essential, and they give us excellent examples from those in the faith who have gone ahead of us. Around 1044 BC Psalm 16 was penned by David. In the midst of danger, and before he received the crown, David found holy contentment and unspeakable joy! What an honor it is to read his words! 

Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
I said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.’

As for the saints who are on the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;
I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set the LORD continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand, there are pleasures forever.

Where Do You Take Refuge? 

When times are hard, where do you take refuge, and to whom do you listen? It’s so awesome that we have people of the faith who have gone before us to show us how to apply our faith! David sets the example for us in the Old Testament, and Jesus affirms his actions in the New Testament – God says to remain or abide in Him. He is the only place to seek refuge.

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit…Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:1-2, 4-5 (NASB) 

Maybe you didn’t make the team. Seek refuge in God.
Maybe you didn’t get the job. Seek refuge in God. 
Maybe your spouse is away coaching until late hours. Seek refuge in God. 
Maybe you can’t see the next chapter yet and you question God’s plan. Seek refuge in God. 

Because when we seek refuge in God, He begins to shift our perspective from self to savior. We realize all good things come from God. We start to see ourselves and other people with His holy eyes, and we let Him turn the page. 

A Beautiful Legacy

And God blesses David with the beautiful legacy of his faith – not money, not land, not a home, but faith. David will never build the temple; however, David is so happy with his heritage. 

Who shared the Good News with you? Whoever it was, passed to you the beautiful legacy of faith. Maybe it was a family member, or perhaps it was a friend. You don’t have to come from a Christian home to become a Christian and obtain an eternal inheritance! As soon as you believe, you obtain the beautiful legacy of faith and it is not to keep to yourselves. You may be the first in your family to believe, or you may come from a long line of believers. It doesn’t matter. Just like David, we can be so content with our heritage! When you believe, you are grafted into the faith-family tree, and your spiritual heritage goes back to the Patriarchs – Abraham, Issac, and Jacob! 

Wonderful Counselor

Every one of us has a story about where we have been and where God is taking us. The key is to remain in God and listen for His voice in and through each chapter. God will lead you if you let Him. God is David’s counselor, just as Jesus is called our Wonderful Counselor! Where does David’s wisdom come from? It comes from God’s counsel at all hours of the night! No matter what comes against David, he will not be shaken, because He has set the Lord at his right hand. David seeks His Heavenly Father for wisdom, guidance, and direction. Whatever comes against him, he is secure because he remains in God.  

Fullness of JOY

David seeks God in the good times and the hard times because David knows He is where the joy is! David knows in His presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forever! 

Wherever you are in your story, you matter! David was given the promise to be king at a young age, yet God took him through many chapters before David received the crown.

David sought refuge in GOD.
David delighted in God’s people.
David loved his legacy.
David listened to God.
Because David knew, in His presence is fullness of JOY! 

May we seek GOD.
May we delight in His people, so we may find our people!
We need each other to cheer each other on in this game called life! 
May we love our beatiful legacy! 
May we listen to God! 
May we find JOY in His presence and may it OVERFLOW onto every person He places in our spaces!

Coaches, athletes, administrators, teachers, friends, and family, you’ve got this today because He has you! 
These truth’s come from God’s Word.
God’s Word is true.
God’s Word is enough. 
You are so loved.

 

 

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