(As our team files into the locker room heads are hanging. The team knows we are capable of doing more than what we delivered in the first half of the game. We've won numerous games, but are currently on a losing streak. The attitude in the room says, 'we don't know what's wrong and don't know what to do differently," from my observations on the sideline I know our primary problem is lethargy. We have great talent, but are playing like we have none.)
That wasn't our best half. It wasn't bad because we aren't capable, it's bad because we're half asleep. We're not playing inspired. I know how hard you work in practice; I've seen the effort each of you gives when we ask for it. I'm asking for it now. I'm asking you to look deep down inside of yourself and find the fire I know is there. You wouldn't still be here if you didn't have that fire.
How do you bring it out? That's the question most of you are wondering. That's the question that's holding us back. It starts by not comparing ourselves to who we've been, but fixing our eyes on who we want to be, and then playing like that person.
I don't want you to focus on the other team. Whether they show up to play or not isn't important, but how we play is. We can play the best team in the world or the worst team ever and I expect you to play the same: with all your heart. It's not about them it's about us.
I don't want you to compare yourself to the person on your left or your right. I want you to compare yourself to the image you want to become. We can get distracted when our motivation only comes from the people next to us. We can lock ourselves into a trap of losing by pointing out how the people around us aren't good enough. The people around us aren't important, our attitudes and the effort we choose to give is. We can control our own attitudes and efforts, we can't control those of our teammates. We have the choice to play inspired, or let others dictate how we're going to play. Choose right now, how you want to play, and play that way for the rest of the game. Regardless of what happens.
There have been some great players on our team, the great things they have done are not over and done with, they can happen again. They can happen because we choose to play like the person who inspired them. Let me tell you about the actions of those former players,
"who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword."
The world was not worthy of these men and women. These are the people who've gone before you. These are the people who chose to raise up their heads at the challenge and not back down. These are the people who made our team what it is and they are still shaping us today.
Do not be discouraged, for God is with us. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart full of faith. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Fix your eyes on God, let Him give you the courage and fire you need to win this fight.
Stand up. Hands in. Let's go back out there and show them what our faith can do.
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