Monday Morning Devotion-September 15, 2025

 Faith Wins

 For we walk by faith, not by sight.    2 Corinthians 5:7

*from April 2019

            Tony Bennett was the head basketball coach at the University of Virginia.  He is also a man of faith.  His faith was sorely tested in 2018.  His team was riding high as they went to the NCAA basketball tournament.  In fact, they were a number one seed.  The prospects for a first championship for his Cavaliers were rosy as they opened up with #16.

            Just that quickly the bloom was off of the roses.  Maryland-Baltimore County became the first #16 seed in Tournament history to beat #1.  They won by 20 points.  Bennett's team was embarrassed, humiliated, wallowing in despair.

That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

                                                                                         1 Corinthians 2:5

            Flash forward one year.  Here we go again.  Virginia was a number one seed.  But, this time they won against #16 and every other team leading up to the championship game.  They were standing on the threshold of that "One Shining Moment."  Their hopes and dreams would be dashed or realized. How could Coach Bennett inspire and encourage his team to be the best they could be and hopefully win the championship?

            On game day Bennett played one of his favorite songs: ---Hills and Valleys by Tauren Wells--- for the team to inspire them:

Hills and Valleys

I've walked among the shadows

You wiped my tears away

I've felt the pain of heartbreak

And I've seen the brighter days

When I'm walking through the valley

    No I'm not alone  

You're the God of the hills and valleys

And I'm not alone

            This time Bennett's faith was rewarded as his Cavaliers won over Texas Tech, 85-77 in overtime.  They had come from the valley of despair to the mountain top of happiness.  They were indeed National Champions.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

                                                                                                2 Timothy 4:7

          Having experienced the lowest lows and the highest highs that his job could offer Bennett was well-qualified to address that subject as he shared what he had learned.  He said: "The Lord is more than ample.  He's enough.  In Him there is all sufficiency.  In Him there is great joy and great rest, regardless of what the world is screaming at you through great success or through failure."

            The dictionary definition of faith is: "Complete trust or confidence in someone or something."

            The Bible says:  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen   Hebrews 11:1

          In the introductory chapter to his book: "The Wisdom of Faith," legendary Hall of Fame football coach Bobby Bowden addresses why having faith is invaluable:

            "Life is fired at us point blank.  We rarely have time to pause and say: 'Wait! I'm not ready.  Give me time to prepare.' About the time we think we know what the day will bring, we realize we don't.  Life is such a mystery.  Like when a fog rolls in during a night at sea.  We think we know what's out there, but not for sure.  Our lights penetrate only so far.  What lies beyond can be known only by sailing into the darkness, peering into it as best we can and watching vigilantly." 

            That is where faith comes in.  Where do we go?  How do we get there?  When we get there, then what?

            Each day we are faced with endless possibilities.  First, we should give thanks that there is a new day.  The Lord has given us this brand-new gift; this day that is filled with potential.

Where will He lead us?

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

                                                                               Matthew 21:22

Bowden closes his introductory chapter with this mini-prayer:

            O Lord, please keep me off the path of fools.  That road is wide and crowded.  Yours is narrow.  Grant me wisdom as I head toward the fork in the road.

           Which way to turn?  That is often the question we are faced with in life.  We are faced with many decisions.  From minor incidents to life-changing events making the right decision to do the right thing is important.  That is where faith comes in.

So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.     Romans 10:17

            Pastor Tony Evans, mega-book seller says: "Faith mostly comes down to how we view life through the lens of God's

Word.  Faith is perspective."

 Evans also points out that faith is endurance.  "Faith isn't a 100-yard dash or a quick sprint around the track.  No, the race of faith is a marathon.  It requires a steady, daily dependence on the character and teachings of God.  If faith doesn't exhibit this daily dependence, when the challenges of life come you will be too out of shape to take the next step." www.focusonthefamily.com  ("What is Faith?" by Tony Evans.)

            So, faith is a necessary, invaluable part of our lives.  Without it we are like that ship sitting there in the fog not knowing what is out there.  It takes faith to move ahead.  Faith leads the way. It is important.  Faith wins!

            But remember this:

Now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

                                                                                                                          1 Corinthians 13:13

Prayer: Lord help us to always keep the faith, secure in the knowledge that you are there leading the way.  Amen!

 Note: The excerpt is from "Hills and Valleys" a song by Tauren Wells who won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Performance/Song and the GMA Dove Award for the Song of the Year.