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I Love Softball Listen and learn from your Coach by Serena Butler I love softball. I used to play when I was younger, but now I just like to watch it any chance I get. Recently, the 14-and-under, fast pitch, girl's softball championship was held in my town. One hundred and twenty teams from across the United States descended on our small town to fight it out over a week's time. So, I spent a lot of time out at the softball complex that week. One team stood above the rest, both physically and in talent. They were from California (the capital of softball) and were named the "Angels." They looked more like 18-year-olds than 14-year-olds as they came out onto the field in their well tailored uniforms. I could tell instantly this would be one of the top teams in the tournament. They won their first four games with no problems. As the tournament progressed, I made it a point to find the Angels and watch their games. One afternoon, I settled into the bleachers to watch them play a much smaller team from Ohio named "The Extreme." In the second inning, something very interesting happened. As the first Extreme batter stepped up to the plate, the coach yelled to his player, "Watch the defense. They will adjust depending on what pitch is being thrown. If they move to the right, it's going to be outside. If they shift to the left it's going to be inside. If they don't move, it's coming right down the middle." I watched as the defense moved a couple of steps to the right. Here came the pitch ... sure enough, on the outside part of the plate. The batter stepped out of the box and looked at the coach. "Did you see it?" he asked. She nodded and stepped back into the batter's box. The defense didn't adjust this time. Here came the pitch ... right down the middle ... and the swing. She hit the ball and ran to first base ... safe. As she excitedly clapped her hands, she yelled back to the dugout, "Watch the defense. You'll know what pitch is coming." The coach told the rest of the team, "Until they change their strategy, we'll just keep adjusting to what we know is coming." That is exactly what they did. And the little scrappy team from Ohio beat the big strong team from California, 2-0. They won the game because the coaches watched the opposition and gave guidance to the players under them, and the players listened and reacted. The same lesson can be applied to our spiritual lives. As Christians, we are in a spiritual battle and Satan keeps throwing things at us to keep us off balance and out of the game. How many times have you felt like you struck out in life? I know I've felt that way. As women trying to make it in this world, we need to be listening to the greatest coach the world has ever known ... Jesus Christ. He has been battling against Satan for a long time and knows what to expect. He wants to instruct you on how to succeed in the battle. The Bible is His guideline and instruction for how to adjust to the "pitches" Satan is throwing at you. Read it, learn it, memorize it, put it into practice. As you develop new skills for fighting off the curveballs and sliders, share those with your friends so they can experience victory as well. Listen to those who are older and wiser. They've played the game before and know from experience how Satan attacks in certain circumstances. It's much easier to win the game when you know what to expect from your opposition. Ephesians 6:10-13 says, "A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm." If you listen to your coach and follow His instructions, you, too, will come out victorious in the end.