How Taking on the Whole Armor of God Helps Me Win at Pickleball

One of the things I grapple with in playing pickleball is footwork, standing firm in the face of the ball coming towards me at what seems like 60 mph or more and believing that I can successfully return it and defeat my opponent.

I’m learning that I have to use footwork and cover my breastplate as the ball approaches. I have to use my mind to analyze the return of the ball— what angle, how fast, slow, etc. and the thoughts of my opponent. It’s like a game of chess. I have to understand angles, use psychology, what is my opponent’s strengths and weaknesses? What are mine? I have to use my faith that I have what it takes to defeat my opponent. I have to believe that I can succeed and that I have a healthy body, mind, and that God is on my side and will strengthen me. 

I don’t win all the time, but I’m getting so much better as I understand myself, my partner, my opponent, and I enjoy the journey! I thank God that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and when I ask for help he strengthens me. 

Last week my partner and I came from a score of 1 to 6 and emerged to win 12 to their 10. My partner was great. He kept telling me not to give up, we would find our rhythm and we did!

I don’t tell my opponents, many who are half my age, my true age. Ha-ha, God is good! Like Sarah, I’m giving birth to new things as I age. I dare you to discover the greatness in you by standing your ground and taking on the whole armor of God.

“Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13-17 AMP) 

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