Do You Pickle?
Do you pickle? If you haven’t noticed, pickleball has been taking recreational sports by storm. Pickleball participation has grown by 311% over the last three years. It seems like every tennis court I drive by has been taken over by “picklers.” In fact, Novak Djokovic, former world’s number one tennis player, said, “tennis has become an endangered sport” because of pickleball’s ascension.
I personally love pickleball and play it with my family and friends. (I honestly think it could help tremendously with the health crisis America faces. Anything to get us moving from our sedentary, binge-watching, scrolling patterns...But I digress.)
Like any sport, pickleball has its own set of rules and lingo. I recently learned there is a “shot” in pickleball called “the reset.” This is a shot that slows down the ball, hitting it at a neutral level into the kitchen. (Yes. The kitchen. I know, it’s confusing at first) “The reset” is hit when a player is being overwhelmed by his opponent, yet wants to keep the ball in play and prevent the opponent from applying further offensive strategies.
So, when you are off-balance, overstretched or even off the court you would hit “the reset.” It slows the play down and disarms your opponent of the chance to attack the ball and score against you.
“The reset.” This shot got me thinking of how beneficial a “reset” could be in our spiritual lives. Often, I’ve found that I can feel overwhelmed, off-balance and over-stretched on my faith journey. It feels like the devil is relentlessly on the offensive and is getting the upper hand. In those moments, my tendency is to ramp up my intensity and fervency to try and match or keep up with the attack. In other words, I try “to do more.”
This is often the strategy of the devil. If he can’t get you to slow down or stop what you’re doing for God, he will get you to speed up and overwhelm you with the “duty” of doing more.
The way we deal with heavy offensive pressure is by “the reset.” The reset is the place of rest. It’s the place where we recharge and renew and refresh. It’s the place of remembrance and provision. It’s God’s very presence. It’s where Jesus invites all of us to come. In His presence we remember and rest in His finished work of the cross. (John 17:4) It’s where we remember and rest in the shadow of His wings and His strength. (Ps. 57:1, Prov. 18:10) It’s where we remember and rest in His mercy and loving kindness. (Ps. 103:8, Ps. 145:8)
Psalm 46:10, tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God.”
SO, rather than speeding up our intensity and doing more, I want to encourage you to “reset” your heart, soul and mind by resting. Whatever attack you may be currently experiencing, however off-balance and out of sorts you feel—hit “the reset” shot. Slow down, rest, be still and enjoy the presence of God. This is what disarms the attack of the devil. I want to encourage you to come and rest in His presence and let him refresh you today! (Matt. 11:29, Psalm 23;3)
One of my all-time favorite hymns is “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen H. Lemmel. Every time I sing this hymn, it brings me right to the face of Jesus. Every time. It is my “reset” shot. You probably know or have heard the chorus:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
But very few know or have heard the first verse:
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Take a moment today and hit your “reset” shot!
I personally love pickleball and play it with my family and friends. (I honestly think it could help tremendously with the health crisis America faces. Anything to get us moving from our sedentary, binge-watching, scrolling patterns...But I digress.)
Like any sport, pickleball has its own set of rules and lingo. I recently learned there is a “shot” in pickleball called “the reset.” This is a shot that slows down the ball, hitting it at a neutral level into the kitchen. (Yes. The kitchen. I know, it’s confusing at first) “The reset” is hit when a player is being overwhelmed by his opponent, yet wants to keep the ball in play and prevent the opponent from applying further offensive strategies.
So, when you are off-balance, overstretched or even off the court you would hit “the reset.” It slows the play down and disarms your opponent of the chance to attack the ball and score against you.
“The reset.” This shot got me thinking of how beneficial a “reset” could be in our spiritual lives. Often, I’ve found that I can feel overwhelmed, off-balance and over-stretched on my faith journey. It feels like the devil is relentlessly on the offensive and is getting the upper hand. In those moments, my tendency is to ramp up my intensity and fervency to try and match or keep up with the attack. In other words, I try “to do more.”
This is often the strategy of the devil. If he can’t get you to slow down or stop what you’re doing for God, he will get you to speed up and overwhelm you with the “duty” of doing more.
The way we deal with heavy offensive pressure is by “the reset.” The reset is the place of rest. It’s the place where we recharge and renew and refresh. It’s the place of remembrance and provision. It’s God’s very presence. It’s where Jesus invites all of us to come. In His presence we remember and rest in His finished work of the cross. (John 17:4) It’s where we remember and rest in the shadow of His wings and His strength. (Ps. 57:1, Prov. 18:10) It’s where we remember and rest in His mercy and loving kindness. (Ps. 103:8, Ps. 145:8)
Psalm 46:10, tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God.”
SO, rather than speeding up our intensity and doing more, I want to encourage you to “reset” your heart, soul and mind by resting. Whatever attack you may be currently experiencing, however off-balance and out of sorts you feel—hit “the reset” shot. Slow down, rest, be still and enjoy the presence of God. This is what disarms the attack of the devil. I want to encourage you to come and rest in His presence and let him refresh you today! (Matt. 11:29, Psalm 23;3)
One of my all-time favorite hymns is “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen H. Lemmel. Every time I sing this hymn, it brings me right to the face of Jesus. Every time. It is my “reset” shot. You probably know or have heard the chorus:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
But very few know or have heard the first verse:
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Take a moment today and hit your “reset” shot!
Posted in Notes from Pastor Adrian
2 Comments
Thank you, I could pull up a chair and listen to you all day-
First of all, LOVE pickleball.
n
nReset—thank you for the reminder to slow down and fix our eyes on Jesus.
n
nTimely.