| I grew up going to church and going to youth group every Sunday. When I got to college, I went in a different direction, though. I didn't have my parents to influence me. I didn't have the boundaries that I had in high school. I stopped going to church, but it wasn't until the end of my freshman year that I decided to make a commitment that was going to last, which was to make Jesus Christ the top priority in my life.
All through high school, I had lived two lives. I would say one thing and do another -- just a real big hypocrite. With my youth group friends, I acted like a Christian, but around my football friends, it was something totally different.
After my freshman year of college, I realized that I wanted to start something that would last. That's when I really began serving God.
As a professional athlete, I know what it means to pay the price. Years of hard work have allowed me to play football at the highest level. I am thankful for this.
Yet, the greatest works of men are futile in comparison to the eternal work of Jesus Christ. Jesus' death on the cross accomplished the ultimate answer for the sins of man. Before I became a Christian, my sin separated me from God. Through faith in Jesus' death and resurrection, I realized that He had bridged the gap that sin had created. As I repented of my sins and allowed Jesus to become the Lord of my life, I experienced His love and forgiveness. I began to see a greater purpose for life.
There are so many great Christian principles that carry over to football. You need discipline, you need to be committed. You need to work hard, and you always need to be ready. You've got to do all those things both as a Christian and as an athlete. There are just so many lessons that you can take from the Bible and apply them to your life in many different ways.
Jeremiah 29:11
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