I grew up in a very close family. We went to church together on a regular basis, where I was involved in Sunday school, Bible school, and the youth choir. We had a disciplined home life, but it was a loving one, too. My parents raised us with strong Christian morals. We could talk openly to each other about anything we were going through—good or bad—and we never had to worry about being ostracized or condemned.
I became a Christian as a young man and tried to stay true to His calling. Growing up, I always felt that God was responsible for all of the good things in my life. I felt blessed, because I was able to participate in athletics. I also believed God had provided my parents with jobs so they could provide what we needed as children.
Staying true to Christ as a professional athlete is not easy. There are dozens of things to tempt and distract you. But being involved in our team Bible study has helped me tremendously. I look forward to it every week, because it helps me grow stronger in my relationship with Christ. One of my favorite Bible passages is Jeremiah 9:23-24. I like it, because it speaks to how our human nature leads us to be proud of our achievements. Instead, Jeremiah shows us that we need to recognize that our greatest achievement is being rightly related to God.
Written by soccer player Clarence Goodson
