Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open golf tournament while playing for four days on a left knee with a torn ACL and broken bones in his knee. Tiger played hurt. He focused through his pain, made necessary adjustments, and kept his eye on the prize. Most would have not entered the tournament with such a medical report. How can these four men do that? Are they just lucky? There is some degree of luck but also a commitment to physical training. Even more than that, they had committed themselves to play through the pain, limps, and injuries associated with professional sports. They may only be at 70% but they are going to give you 100% of that 70%. Can you play hurt? Can you give everything you have today to your family, job, and God? In the ministry you very often have to play hurt. Jesus played hurt! Friend, playing hurt makes you and me future Hall of Fame inductees into heaven. God has a star in the sky with your name on it. That makes you a super star! Inspire those around you with your courage and faith. Are you facing challenges? Are you wondering, “Is this all there is?” Has material success proved disappointing? Are you having trouble recovering from a career setback? Do you feel trapped by your lifestyle and possessions? Is your career unrewarding? Would you like to establish and achieve higher goals? Are you struggling emotionally? Are you playing hurt? Mike Murdock says, whatever you can tolerate, you cannot change. Dissatisfaction is good if it motivates us to make the necessary changes. God’s primary purpose in your crisis is not your survival, but your education. There is a lesson to be learned in every trial. Painful times will always be with us. Failure is not an event but a personal opinion of self or others. Failure cannot happen in your life without your permission and will last only as long as you allow it. All men fall, great men just get back up. Hell always attacks your future not your past. God never consults your past to determine your future. It’s a new day. Those who created yesterday’s pain do not control tomorrow’s potential. Murdock says misery is a yesterday person trying to get along with a tomorrow person. Prayer is your proof that you truly respect God. Spiritual warfare is simply meeting opposition on the road to a miracle.” Are you struggling emotionally? Murdock believes that your current struggle is proof you have not yet been conquered. Stop looking at what you can see and start looking at what you can have in God. Your focus determines your feelings! Crisis is merely a season for creativity. Crisis always happens at the point of promotion. Satan always attacks those who are next in line for a promotion. False accusation is the last stage before supernatural promotion. God will never promote you until you become overqualified for your present assignment. Obedience shortens the time to your miracle. God will never advance you beyond your last disobedience. Faith is simply placing confidence in the integrity of God. Feelings of loneliness are not the absence of affection, but the absence of clear direction. When God gets ready to bless you, He brings a person into your life. Someone is always observing you who are capable of greatly blessing you. Your seed is anything that God has given you to sow into someone else. When you let go of what’s in your hand, God will let go of what is in His hand. Intolerance of your present creates your future. Never stay where God has not assigned you. Go where you are celebrated instead of where you are tolerated. Your assignment will require seasons of preparation. People see what you are before they hear what you are. You will only be remembered for two things: The problems you solve and the problems you create. Be a problem solver! Because of Jesus’ death we are able to live a balanced and better life. God promises that the revelation of Jesus’ resurrection power is available when we need it. This abundant life in Jesus helps to graciously bring our unchecked emotions into submission to God’s Word and Spirit. God promises that even though we will have trials, pressures, and difficult circumstances…we still win because of the all-surpassing power of God at work within us. Our emotions don’t run on a slick predictable schedule. Recovery from discouragement and depression is often a long process. Remember to turn to the Holy Spirit within you. The Holy Spirit is your Comforter. Discouragement will tempt you to neglect your devotional life and spiritual things. Don’t give in to the neglect; instead turn all that much more to God! Submit your emotions to the Lordship of Christ. Let the Holy Spirit minister to you. Draw on His supernatural strength to bring you out of your depression into victory. | 
