Tyler Abbott - Men's Tennis

I was…

I grew up in a strong Christian home with two parents who deeply love and follow Christ. They raised me to know and follow Christ, which I am incredibly grateful for, however, as I grew up, my faith was relatively shallow because it was based on my knowledge of God and the mindset of following rules. I knew a lot about God and how a Christian was supposed to act but I did not really know God and have a relationship with Him. I did not have the joy, satisfaction, and purpose that comes with a relationship with Christ. This led me to pursue joy, satisfaction, and purpose in other things throughout my middle school and high school years. I tried to find satisfaction and purpose through success in my sport, dating, alcohol, pornography, popularity, and even religion (doing all the “right” things in front of people). All of these things gave me temporary and fleeting happiness and satisfaction but in the end they left me feeling empty, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled.

But Christ…

Freshman year of high school I went to my church’s student retreat because some of my friends were going. It was at the end of this retreat during a worship service that it all clicked for me. I experienced the presence of God for myself for the first time. It was in that moment that God became real to me. Late that night in my bed room I got down on my knees and decided to truly follow Christ and begin this personal relationship with Him.

And now…

After that moment with God and the decision to surrender my life to Him and walk in a relationship with Him things began to change in my life. It was not an immediate drastic change. I still struggled with and still do sometimes struggle with trying to find joy, satisfaction, and purpose in the things of this world rather than in God and my relationship with Him. However, day by day He has been wooing me to Him more and more by His incredible love! He has continued to change me and transform me by the power of the Holy Spirit and is teaching me to walk in His ways!

I am now living a life of joy, hope, peace, and love in Christ as I pursue Him day by day! I was a lost and confused kid trying to find my joy, satisfaction, and purpose in the things of this world and then Christ entered in and freely gave me everything in Him! My joy, hope, and satisfaction is now in Christ and what He did on the cross for me allowing me to spend eternity in relationship and union with Him! My life used to be about me but now I realize that it is all about God! My purpose is now to “glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” (My testimony is depicted in Psalms 107:4-7)

Life Verse

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

(Romans 1:16 is my other one…)

Challenge to Other Athletes/Coaches

I challenge any Christian to get in the Word and spend time with Him daily! Any and every relationship is grown by time spent with each other… it is the same with God! I believe thateverything flows from the secret place with the Father. He is our source, our life, and our spiritual sustenance! We would never expect a phone to keep working without charging it. We would never expect our car to keep working without putting gas in it. We would never expect our bodies to keep working if we do not regularly feed it food and water. And we would never expect our relationship with a friend, a spouse, a teammate, or anybody without investing time into that relationship. So why on earth would we ever expect ourselves to be able to follow Christ, know Him more, become more like Him, and live a life of love like Him if we are not full of Him and not spending time with Him… if we are not full of His Word, His truth, and His Spirit? It won’t work. I challenge anyone reading this to make spending time with God daily in His Word and in prayer and worship the number one priority of your life because it is from our time with Him that everything else in our life will flow out of! (Check out John 15:1-6; the gospels when Jesus frequently retreats away to be with the Father; Psalms 87:7; John 6:31-35, 7:37-38)