“I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with uprightness. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.” — 1 Chronicles 29:17
In this verse, Solomon had been experiencing the greatest time of his life. Untold riches and phenomenal success were part of his everyday life. Yet within that prosperity, Solomon said his heart was tested. He knew that God is delighted by “uprightness,” or integrity of heart, and he pursued those qualities.
To be whole, complete, undivided in our heart’s motives and desires is to have integrity. Does that characterize how we coach? Are our hearts full of integrity on our worst days? How about on our best days? Some of us are tested by bad days and others by good days. Some are tested by losing streaks and others by championships.
Let’s follow Solomon’s example as we approach competition today. Let’s lift a prayer of consecration to God. If we offer all we have and all we are with integrity of heart, God will be delighted by our upright nature. That would
make for a great day of competition and an even better life in Christ.
Extra Reading: 1 Chronicles 29:14–19; Mark 14:1–11
Father, test my heart and prove my character. Help me to coach my players with integrity of heart. Enable me to face both success and failure with uprightness and wisdom. Amen.
