If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:31-34, NIV)
If you know this Jesus, God never brings a charge against you, nor does he condemn you.I met Ashli Helstrom, a young aspiring professional golfer, a couple years ago when our Links Arizona Region Director, Lewis Greer, introduced us during a round at Mesa Country Club. Along with having fun beating the guys that day, I was also able to share about my LPGA tour experiences with Ashli. Since then, I have been honored to be a safe ear and a curious voice in Ashli’s journey of discovery, both on the golf course and in her personal story.
Recently, I received an excited text from Ashli that she had a story that would make a great devotional. As her words filled my text window, I smiled and said yes, let’s share your story.
During a golf clinic to a group of ladies at my club, Tonto Verde CC, I walked up to one participant who was aligned left of her intended target. I showed the woman the flaw that I saw in her alignment.
She quickly responded, “I must just naturally have ‘off’ alignment.”
“I look at it more as you’re really close, but you just need a slight adjustment,” I replied.
I helped her pull her right foot back a bit, making her alignment square to her target, and she began hitting solid shots toward her target. It only took a small adjustment.
The next morning, when I was doing my devotional reading and trying to plan an enjoyable day off, I found myself struggling with my thinking. Critical questions like Why are you thinking this way? and I thought I was past this raced through me. I felt down and defeated, but decided to open my Bible to today’s passage believing it would help realign my thinking to God’s truth.
Like her student during the clinic, Ashli was quick to define her critical questions as a natural flaw. When it comes to our own lives and thinking, we have two options. We can think, Oh no! What’s wrong with me? Or, we can pick up the true alignment stick, God’s Word, and ask his Holy Spirit to guide us to what we need to read or hear to get back to what’s true.
I love how Ashli recognized her own self-condemnation and went to what is true—Jesus sits at the right hand of God interceding for us. If you know this Jesus, God never brings a charge against you, nor does he condemn you. We tend to be our own worst enemies, especially on the golf course—quick to condemn and define our flaws. Today, may we carry God’s truth as our alignment stick to reset our hearts and minds back on target. We’ll still have some mis-hits, but God’s grace continues to give us another shot.
—
Tracy Hanson
February 9, 2017
Copyright 2017 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.