Proverbs 21:31 (New International Version)
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory
rests with the Lord.
U.S. men's archers Brady Ellison and Jacob Wukie,
speaking at a post-event press conference, made up two-thirds of the trio who
won silver in the men's team competition July 28.
Brady Ellison, Jacob Wukie and Jake Kaminski became the
first Americans to capture a medal in the London Olympics, winning silver in
the men's archery team competition July 28.
The U.S. trio scored a big win over South Korea in the
semifinals before falling to Italy 219-218 in a gold medal match that came down
to the last arrow. The Italians needed a perfect 10 on the last shot and got
it.
During the match, Ellison wore the Scripture reference
Proverbs 21:31 on his right hand: "The horse is made ready for the day of
battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."
He described why the verse is meaningful to him in a
press conference following the match, noting that it's important to work hard
and to be as prepared as possible.
"But when it comes down to it, victory is in the
Lord's hands," Ellison said. "He gives out the medals at these Games,
or at least, that's my opinion."
Wukie, who narrowly made the U.S. team, echoed Ellison's
sentiments. Throughout the trials process and the Olympic competition, Wukie
said it was important for him to keep his focus on the Lord whether he made the
team or not.
"I work hard and do my best to the best of my
ability, and I trust God with the results," Wukie said. "He said that
all things work together for good for those who are in Christ Jesus, and so
that's really my focus.
"I can't necessarily always say how people are going
to view me or view that, but I can trust the Lord that He'll allow the truth to
be shown to other people."
Ellison said he and his teammates "all decided that
the team event is where we wanted to spend the most time, because it was going
to be the most memorable. We could share it with each other, and that would
mean so much more to us to go out there and win a medal together than
individually. So we put a lot of work into practicing team rounds."
"It's a huge blessing to have been here and to have
gotten a medal," he said, "and we couldn't be more excited about it.
We all tend to be pretty humble about our accomplishments and don't like to
brag about it too much."
In the archery women's team competition, the U.S. team of
Jennifer Nichols, Khatuna Lorig and Miranda Leek lost to a lower-ranked Chinese
team 218-213 in the quarterfinals July 30, leaving the Americans without a
medal in the event.
"We came out and had high hopes," Nichols said.
"We felt really good. We were shooting really well all this week and
especially in practice right before we came out. However, it just wasn't our
day.
"When our arrows didn't go in, China's did. It
happens sometimes. China shot really well, and I'm really happy for them."
From a personal standpoint, Nichols said she gave the
results, her expectations and how she felt to the Lord.
"I kept praying, even the whole time during that
match, 'Lord, just guide our hands. Help us to shoot well, and you be
glorified,'" Nichols said. "I'm still praying that He's glorified,
even in our loss as much as in our wins."
As you go through the day are you asking God to guide
your hands and that He is glorified?
Dear Lord today as we think about the archers we pray the
same words “Lord, just guide our hands
and may You be glorified ” In Jesus’
name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment