Coaching Principles from the Good Shepherd's Playbook

We all need help in life, but only the wise actually seek it out. No matter how strong, rich, or talented you are, you need guidance. Every singer needs their producer, every athlete needs their coach, and every entrepreneur needs their mentor. Yet some of the most important roles in life—being a spouse, parent, friend, or spiritual leader—often receive the least coaching.

Why Do We Need Spiritual Coaching?

In John 10:27, Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me." This reveals the true nature of godly leadership. True shepherds lead from the front, going before you—not driving from behind. As Psalm 23 reminds us, "He leads me," not pushes me.

There's a critical difference between leadership styles:

• Fearless leadership sets an example by going out front 
• Toxic leadership pushes from behind using coercion, pressure, and manipulation

When someone tells you to only listen to them because they're the only one who knows what's best for you—that's wolf talk, not shepherd talk. Wolves eat sheep; shepherds lead sheep.

How Does God's Coaching Style Work?

God provides us with various spiritual coaches through the "fivefold ministry" mentioned in Ephesians 4:11—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Their purpose? For your perfecting, your assignment, and your building up in the body of Christ.

You can easily discern between leadership that leads versus leadership that drives: 

• One produces faith; the other produces doubt and fear
• One is patient; the other is bossy and demanding
• One promotes peace; the other promotes confusion

Coaching Principle 1: Drop the Weights and Focus on Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-3 gives us a powerful coaching principle: "Let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus..."

Picture yourself in a coliseum with faithful witnesses from the afterlife surrounding you, with Jesus overseeing the whole race. The instruction is clear: dump off the weights—the sin, the condemnation, the selfishness, the pride, and even the past. Just let it go.

The object of this faith race isn't speed but endurance. It's not physical but "faithical." The coaching instruction is simple: drop the weights and keep your eyes on Jesus. Focus on what matters most.

Coaching Principle 2: It's Not About You, It's About Jesus

Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Imagine being thrown into a championship game as the quarterback with no experience. You'd be destroyed! But what if someone like Tom Brady could wear your number and play for you? Then you could say, "I can throw any pass through Tom, who's my strength in this game."

Many Christians live below the winning standard Jesus purchased for them because they have broken focus and play the game of life in their own strength. It's not about you—it's all about Jesus. He's the captain, the star, the king, the Savior.

Consider your prayers: Are they more about getting your way and exalting yourself, or about going His way and exalting Him?

Coaching Principle 3: Run to Win with Self-Discipline

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 instructs us: "Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize."

The great coach promotes merit, self-control, and winning. Don't be disqualified by: 

• Running aimlessly with no focus
• Boxing and just beating the air
• Living in your own strength

Discipline yourself to stay in Christ—that's called maturity. Character is not optional for truly living. Too often, talent, charisma, appearance, and gifting have been substituted for the real steel of true identity and character.

Character is who you are when nobody's looking. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him."

What Does Excellent Coaching Do For You?

Excellent coaching brings out the excellence God has predestined to be in you. It's like sculpting—as Michelangelo said, "Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it's the task of the sculptor to discover it."

A coach isn't there to make you comfortable but to unlock your extreme potential, destiny, and the intricacies God has invested in you. Pursue coaching not for comfort or confirmation, but for correction.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: "For we are his workmanship, his own masterwork, a work of art created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared for us beforehand."

What a Good Coach Does:

• Doesn't hit the ball for you but helps adjust your thinking, posture, and swing
• Doesn't run for you but helps set goals, train, and push the envelope
• Encourages and corrects, expecting accountability
• Challenges you to face obstacles, not ignore them or run away

How Does Mental Alignment Impact Your Success?

DGU (Don't Give Up) Coaching requires mental alignment. Sports psychology has become vital for professional athletes, focusing on winning attitude, focused thinking, visualization, positive language, and controlled consistency.

You cannot win without thinking you can win. You can't overcome without thinking you can overcome. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

Everyone gets thoughts that are temptations from the enemy—these aren't your thoughts unless you take possession of them. Jesus was tempted too, so don't fall into condemnation.

3 John 2 tells us, "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers." Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions—so get your head in the game!

Your thinking is attached to your health, well-being, relationships, eating, healing, joy, peace, and every other kind of prosperity. Without mental alignment and discipline, you'll experience unrest, agitation, confusion, worry, anxiety, hopelessness, and fear.

How Do You Set Your Mind on Higher Things?

Colossians 3:2 instructs: "Set your minds and keep them set on what is above, not on the things that are on the earth."

Notice that YOU do this—not God. Why? Because it's your choice, regardless of the tyranny or injustice around you. No one can choose your thoughts but you. God will help if you ask, but it's still your choice.

You can't overcome:

• Losing thoughts by thinking about not wanting to lose
• Sick thoughts with worries about sickness
• Poverty by thinking more about what you don't have

You overcome darkness with light. The Bible says, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Light always conquers darkness. Set your mind on God's truth and light, then speak His light into the darkness.

Jesus is that light—the way, the truth, and the light. He's the ultimate "don't give up" expert. In Him, we live, move, and have our true identity.

Life Application

This week, commit to implementing these coaching principles from the Good Shepherd's playbook:

• Identify the weights that are slowing you down in your spiritual race. What sin, hindrance, or past experience do you need to lay aside? Make a conscious decision to drop these weights and refocus on Jesus.

• Examine your prayers and thoughts. Are they centered on your agenda or God's? Practice shifting your focus from "what can God do for me?" to "how can I align with what God is doing?"

• Set your mind intentionally on "above thoughts" each day. When negative thoughts come, practice replacing them with God's truth. Remember, this is your choice—no one can make it for you.

Ask yourself:

• What specific weights am I carrying that I need to release?
• In what areas of my life am I trying to succeed in my own strength rather than through Christ?
• What practical steps can I take to set my mind on things above when facing challenges this week?

Remember, you're not alone in this journey. Jesus is the ultimate coach who never gives up on you—so don't give up on yourself.