July 30, 2017
My reflections on creating an Ideal Performance State through worship from my recent tournament victory. I hope this encourages you and informs you.
If you have not heard by now, I won the Tennessee Senior Women’s Open by a resounding 13 shots! I played brilliantly, if I don’t mind saying so, shooting an even par 72 in very rainy conditions all day long.
Today I visited a new friend’s church in Raleigh whom I met while at The Messenger Cup in Colorado Springs two weeks ago, Pastor Lynton Turkington. He honored me in front of the entire church, telling of how we met and how I was an answer to his prayer for help with his chipping that day! He had me stand up and lift my trophy before the entire congregation who cheered me on and shared in my victory! That was so great—to bring my victory into the Body of Christ and make it theirs as well as mine!
It was marvelous to experience the fruit of worship in competition. Here is what I discovered:
- Friday morning I spent an extensive time in worship, singing the anointed song, “I’m no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God.” Somehow those words got deep into my spirit. I decided to play as a CHILD OF GOD = NO FEAR. The day before I was a bit tentative in my “in-between” shots. I decided to play FULL OUT = NO FEAR.
We worship God when we play out of our true IDENTITY in Christ.
- Something happened to solidify my Ideal Performance State by doing so. I so nurtured my spirit that I almost forgot I had a tournament that day! In a worldly system, you can only combat fear mentally with another thought or mental trigger. When you go deeper and FEED YOUR SPIRIT, that deeper feeding NATURALLY soaks up the negativity. I HAD NO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS the entire day. NONE. While I was in my zone, I forgot what hole I was on and only vaguely knew my score.
- My mind was SO CLEAR, and what I do remember is a STRONG AVERSION TO NEGATIVITY and CLARITY ABOUT NOT SETTING UP ANY RESISTANCE in my mind. For instance, after 9 holes, I was only 2 up on my playing partner. I was feeling the heat of competition. On the back nine, she started complaining about “how miserable the weather was and how she had had enough of it.” She was setting up a resistance in her mind and that began her downfall. My lead widened. I refused to set up any resistance. I welcomed the rain, accepted it, dealt with it, was patient with it, and just made it part of my game. I used the weather conditions to my advantage—and remember someone praying that I would do just that.
- I relished the competition. Although I was not afraid, I could tell I was a bit nervous as my rangefinder was a bit shaky as I worked on determining my yardage. I was not aware of this until tried to steady the thing on the flag. I was okay with that.
- I knew from the day before when I felt TOTAL VICTORY in my SPIRIT that I was going to win. There was NO waver in my knowing. I knew there had to be an outward expression of my state of total victory.
- My playing partners were not contratulatory. I noticed it, but it did not affect me.
- I REALLY ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE OF WINNING. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.
- The joy of receiving the trophy lasted about 2 seconds. What was so much fun and what GAVE ME JOY was all the hundreds of well-wishes on Facebook. I had this on-line GALLERY cheering me on—from people from way back in my past to my present from people I knew well to people I don’t know at all. That was so much fun! So many people said to me, “Your victory was my victory. I experienced it, too.” When you worship, you play WITH AN OPEN HEART. Golf is so independent and INWARD. I broke the realm open to including anyone who wanted to be a part of my championship. A shared victory in the spirit.
- Worship means I compete from a still spirit.
- I had more stamina than others my age who played because of the secret nutrition I use to give me energy all the way around as well as my recovery practices. I played from a place of rest.
- The greatest joy was receiving testimonies from others of how my “competing by faith” inspired their lives. My mission in life is transformation and it was so beautiful to see how my golf is helping other people grow closer to God! Praise the Lord!
I would love to hear from you!
Veronica