Boxing and The Father’s Love

Boxing and The Father’s Love. How to Work Out the Fathers Love in the Practical Areas of Your Life

Today I want to share a recent experience I had of turning a shame-based thought about myself into a Father’s Love thought about myself. I think this will help you work out the Father’s love practically in your own life.

I’m amazed at how often I learn lessons about God’s love while boxing. Actually, I think anytime we are learning a new skill something happens in our hearts along the way.

I had been reading a book about boxing techniques and certain ways to throw punches. Then I went to the gym for my workout intending to practice these techniques. The trainer here in the Philippines takes me through 3 rounds on the mitts, 3 on the speedbag, 3 on the double-end bag, and 3 on the heavy bag. At the end of the hour we do some ab exercises and stretching.

As I’m about to finish going through my ab routine I have this thought, “I didn’t build any skill at all today toward how my book said to throw punches,” and a bit of condemnation began to creep in.

Then I stopped myself and thought, “Wait a minute, I did practice what the book said — quite a bit actually. Both on the double-end bag and the heavy bag. As I continue to practice, the skill will come.”

The first thought was a shame-based thought. It was black-and-white, perfectionistic, and accusatory. The second thought was the Father’s love. It was filled with grace and hope. It expressed patience with myself and that there is nothing shameful about being in a learning process.

I’ve been going through this same thought process in learning to hit the speedbag. For the first two months I hit “at it” but couldn’t keep any rhythm. Anyone watching me could clearly see how poor my technique was. Yet, my skill at the speedbag does not define me. My identity — and yours, dear reader — comes from being a beloved child of God, created in His image. Period.

Can you recognize shame-based thoughts when they arise in your life? They always have to do with ways you don’t feel you measure up. By catching these thoughts and replacing them with Father’s love-based thoughts, you move beyond just knowing a teaching, into applying the Father’s love in your life.