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With one second left on the clock …

Foul!

Two shots!

If I make these I can get us into overtime.

I’ve got this! I can to it! I …

I … uh …

Go for it!

You can do it!

We’re counting on you!

Miss! Miss!

You’re gonna choke!

Loser!

I … uh …

You’re gonna CHOKE!

Gulp!

We’re counting on YOU!

Just shoot the ball!

WAAAAAH!!!

Huh?

What a LOSER!

If you don’t shoot, I’ll have to call the game.

WAAAAAH!!!

Tweeeet!

GAME OVER!

I guess it was too much for him.

He IS only 8 years old.

That isn’t it at all.

Why couldn’t I do it?

Son, you were shooting for the wrong goal.

Huh? I was standing under the basket.

Yes, but your real goal was to score a bunch of points, win th egame, and be a big hero so everyone would like you.

Well, what’s wrong with that?

You can’t control all those things.

I can’t?

You especially can’t MAKE people like you.

Then when you don’t play well, you think NOBODY will like you.

I guess that’s why I was so afraid.

When you are afraid of disappointing people, or even yourself, then you won’t play your best.

I don’t want to be afraid.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “Perfect love casts out fear.”

It does?

That verse also says, “Fear involves punishment.”

If you don’t get a handle on that now, you might make a whole lot of wrong decisions through your life, just so you can be liked.

What do I do?

There is only one place where you can experience total love and acceptance that will never fail.

That is through a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ?

That’s right. He loves you so much He paid the price for your sins by dying on a cross and then He rose from the grave to give you eternal life.

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, that just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

He did that for me?

That’s right. When you place your trust in Him, you will be able to live in Heaven with Him for all eternity.

Forever?

Yep. From now on, you can play for an audience of One … and He will love you no matter how you do.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23).

With God you can play fearlessly.

Wow! Who knows how good I can be if I don’t have to worry about messing up?

I want a relationship with Jesus now.

Then pray this prayer with me … Dear Lord, I am guilty of breaking your rules. The guilt I feel is so strong that it’s telling me to turn completely around and surrender my entire life to you. Please sit on the throne of my heart as my Lord and King. Thank you now for saving me from my sinfulness and for giving me eternal life. I will now live only for your glory! In Jesus name, Amen

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