Central Iowa FCA, 2500 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA (2026)

09/02/2026

Winning at Self-Control

Ready:
“Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Set:
“Do as I say but not as I do” is not an effective leadership strategy, whether as an athlete or coach. Yet we sometimes default to this strategy. We encourage our teammates or players to keep their emotions in check, but then we lose it when someone makes a mistake or a game official misses a call. We talk about the importance of taking care of ourselves, but then we make repeated choices that undermine our own physical, emotional and spiritual health. These are issues of self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23 records the fruit of the Spirit—qualities that characterize us as God, through His Spirit, grows us in spiritual maturity. Self-control is the final quality listed. Most of us struggle with self-control in at least some areas. How can we make progress in this quality that is so crucial to competing and living for Christ’s honor? Utilizing a sports metaphor, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 addresses how we “run to win.” Here are three dimensions of growth in self-control:

1. Recognize what’s at stake. When it comes to the life for which God created you, self-control plays an essential role in determining whether you receive the prize (v. 24) or you’re disqualified (v. 27). You will only experience the fullness of all God desires to do in and through you—as a competitor and in other areas—as you exercise self-control.

2. Do a personal “self-control assessment.” Take an honest look at the various areas of your life. Where is self-control lacking? Is it with your anger, your words or even the way you express yourself nonverbally? Do you struggle with self-control with certain appetites, such as eating, consumption of social media or sexual desires expressed in sinful ways? Ask God to reveal to you where you’re “running aimlessly” and undermining His good design for you.

3. Follow Jesus’ example of exercising self-control for the benefit of others. Consider how Jesus disciplined His body and brought it under strict control (v. 27) so that He could fulfill His mission. He resisted every temptation to sin. He did not retaliate when He was subjected to false accusations, cruel suffering and an undeserved ex*****on on a cross. In all things, Jesus exercised self-control for our benefit: so that we can experience salvation and life in Him.

Self-control brings significant rewards to you and to those around you! As you grow in this quality through the Spirit’s work, you will “run to win” for the Lord’s honor.

Go:
In what areas of your life do you need to respond to the Spirit’s work to grow you in self-control?

How does Jesus’ example encourage and inspire you toward greater self-control?

Workout:
Galatians 5:16-26
1 Thessalonians 5:5-11

Overtime:
“Lord Jesus, I praise You because Your self-control brought salvation and life to me. I pray that through Your Spirit’s enabling, I grow in self-control in all areas so that I compete and live for Your honor. Amen.”

09/01/2026

Getting reconnected to THE VINE! 🌿

What a joy to be back on campus with GVU FCA! As we kick off another school year, we’re reminded of the truth in John 15:5–8—when we remain connected to Jesus, He produces fruit through us.

Stay connected. Stay rooted. Keep growing. 🙏

09/01/2026

A Living Hope

Ready:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” – 1 Peter 1:3-4

Set:
Playoffs can often bring about a sense of urgency or fear. “I need to perform well in my sport.” “I need to play the best I’ve ever played.” “I can’t mess up.” All of these things are true: an athlete needs to perform well, play the best they can and limit their mistakes. But to put our hope in a round of playoffs or a set of results from a game or season is futile. We’re hoping in something that will eventually die. Playoffs come and go, the games are lost or won, and then everyone moves on to the next season. The results are a trophy, or a list of stats that either sit on the shelf or within MaxPreps in the archives.

Putting our hope in things as fleeting as these only leaves us empty. All it’d take is a fire, a flood or a technology bug to wipeout those stats and trophies. And if those things don’t happen to them, time and history will have its way with them; they’ll eventually fade away.

The good news is that there is something and someONE far better that we can put our hope in: Jesus Christ, the Living Hope. And His inheritance for us is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. The hope we have in Jesus Christ can’t be touched by the fire, the flood or any other earthly thing. It’s not dead, or outdated, or faded; it’s living. The inheritance we have through Christ is kept in heaven for us. Who do you think is holding onto it for us until our time comes to receive it? God the Father. In His hand, nothing can separate us or distinguish those results of His love. That is something worth setting our hope on: safe, unwavering, imperishable, unfading.

Go:
What are you placing your hope in today?

Because of God’s great mercy, we have a living hope in Christ. Are there ways in your life that you’re trying to earn His mercy by your own merit or produce a hope outside of Christ?

How can you move from knowing about a “living hope” to experiencing it during a stressful or intense week?

Workout:
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, , he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3

18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
Ephesians 1:18-19

Overtime:
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us a new birth into a living hope through Jesus. I have the tendency to place my hope in dead things: stats, trophies, results of seasons, games and my own performance. In Your mercy You have provided the unimaginable through Christ: an inheritance in your Kingdom. Thank You. Please help me to live in light of all You have given me. Amen.”

08/31/2026

For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5

08/31/2026

In the Moment

Ready:
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring —what your life will be! For you are like v***r that appears for a little while, then vanishes.” — James 4:13-14

Set:
Former NFL player Sony Michel once posted on social media, “Imagine reading a book with no way to turn back the page. How carefully would you read each page?” This quote helps to put the verses for today into perspective. Our lives are a book, and we can’t turn back the page to yesterday or turn forward the page to tomorrow. But what we can do is focus on one page at a time, on each line as it comes. And when we do that, the pressure of the rest of the book is out of our hands.

Because our life is a v***r, how much more carefully should we live each moment? Not in a scared sense, but in a savoring way. It’s almost like every day is your senior year; a time where you’re experiencing many of your “lasts.” As James points out in verse 14, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so every day really could be a day when we’re experiencing our “lasts.” We don’t know when the book will end. Does that mean we play any less hard? No! Look back at Michel’s quote, the point is we must carefully read the page. We get to know the characters. We read slowly and learn deeply whatever we can from each page. And when the page turns, we leave it turned and put all our effort into reading the new page in front of us.

In our lives and on our sport teams, we take life moment by moment. We look our peers in the eye and see them in each moment. We savor the time we have with our families, friends and teammates. We play hard with a humble heart, making the most of every opportunity we are given. We live in the moment. We also trust God and His authority in turning the pages of our lives.

Go:
Do you realize that your life is a v***r? Does this scare you or challenge you to make the most of it?

If you only had one more year to this day to live, what would you change about your current day to day life?

Workout:
Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.
Psalm 90:12

A human is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
Psalm 144:4

Overtime:
“Dear Heavenly Father, You know when my book began and when it will end. I’m thankful it has a place in Your library. I look to You for wisdom in knowing how to live out the pages in between. I can get in the habit of wanting to turn the page quicker than You’d have me to or to go back and relive past pages. Help me to live in the moment and savor each day You gift me with. Help me to live and play as if today is my last. All for Your glory, amen.”

08/30/2026

Light in the Dark

Ready:
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." – John 1:5

Set:
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night in a panic because you thought you heard something? Or maybe you’ve had a nightmare that left you sitting up in a cold sweat, heart racing, wondering what was real and what wasn’t?

I’ve never really been afraid of the dark, but in those moments—when the world is so still and silent—the darkness can feel heavy. It stretches out, wide and deep, and seems almost too much to bear. In those moments, I often find myself searching for a light. Sometimes it’s as simple as switching on a lamp in the next room, but that little glow reminds me that the dark isn’t as endless as it feels.

Life can be like that, too. The darkness of the world—brokenness, fear, uncertainty, pain—can feel overwhelming. With so much bad news seeming to constantly surround us, it presses in, making it difficult to rest, to find peace, or even to see what’s ahead.

But John 1:5 reminds us of a powerful truth: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The darkness is real, but it is not stronger than the light of Christ. No matter how overwhelming the night may feel, the presence of Jesus is greater. His light is not just a flicker—it is steady, unshakable and victorious.

When you feel consumed by fear, loneliness or uncertainty, remember that Christ’s light is already shining. The darkness cannot and will not win. And when you have Jesus in your life, that light lives inside of you always. Just as a small light in a room pushes back the shadows, Jesus brings hope, comfort and peace into the deepest places of our lives.

Go:
Where in your life do you feel overwhelmed by darkness, and how can you invite the light of Christ into that place today?

What are some “lights” God has placed in your life (Scripture, prayer, community, worship) that help you push back against the darkness?

In what ways can you be a reflection of Christ’s light to someone else who may feel stuck in the dark?

Workout:
Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

14“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

Overtime:
“Lord, thank You for being the light that no darkness can overcome. When I feel afraid, weighed down, or lost in the shadows, remind me of Your presence and Your victory. Help me to rest in the truth that You are near, and that Your light is always stronger. Amen.”

08/29/2026

Stay Trained

Ready:
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:2

Set:
The decision to compete has been made before gameday arrives. The jersey is on. Plays have been studied. Walkthroughs are finished. At that point, the coach doesn’t introduce new techniques —he or she reminds the team of why, what, and how they’ve trained. The coach tells players. “You run what you’ve practiced. You trust the process.” Renewing minds to take thoughts captive ends not with more information, but with responsibility.

Choosing Jesus’ Team is a one-time decision. Membership on Jesus’ team is offered and received not earned. But playing on His team requires mental and spiritual training. Romans 12:2 makes that clear. “Renewal” describes ongoing, repeated training. It’s continuous. The mind is shaped over time by drilled trust, practiced obedience and sharpened habits. It isn’t mystical or passive. It’s disciplined and deliberate.

Dallas Willard wrote, “Grace is not opposed to effort—it’s opposed to earning.” Grace doesn’t mean we stop training. However, we don’t train to be accepted. We train because we belong and want to play well. The training loop flows from why to what to how:

WHY: Know God’s playbook.

WHAT: Imitate the Coach’s examples.

HOW: Seek Spirit-filtered validation.

This training loop runs continuously in full-contact living—classrooms and conversations, conflict and correction. It’s how truth moves from belief to behavior. Gameday pressure reveals preparation—and fuels further formation. A renewed mind challenges crowd noise by Spirit-trained, truth-filters.

If you’ve decided to join Jesus’ team. Formation comes next. Renewing your mind isn’t something you finish—it’s something you maintain and grow. Every rep matters. When the clock is running and pressure builds, you apply what you’ve practiced to take thoughts captive. Daily renewal matters, not to earn God’s grace, but to live it with strength and clarity amid the chaos of crowd noise. Stay trained. Stay disciplined. Trust the truth you’ve rehearsed.

Go:
The devotion says following Jesus is a one-time decision, but formation is ongoing. Where are you most tempted to confuse belonging with being done training?

What “mental reps” or spiritual habits most shape how you think when life is calm? Which ones tend to get skipped when you’re busy?

Think about a recent peer pressure moment. Did it reveal training or a training gap? What’s one habit you need to reinforce before the next gameday moment?

Workout:
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable —if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy —dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
Proverbs 4:23

Overtime:
“My God and my Coach, thank You for making me part of Your team. Now, renew my mind to take every thought captive. I want to renew my mind daily and live in Your strength and clarity. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

08/28/2026

Friday Devotional | All About Appearance

Bettering ourselves may look different than you think.

Appearance can be a tricky concept. It can detail someone’s view of you or how you view yourself. It is easy to get caught up in differing definitions, but the reality is that our primary role is to know how God views us.

If the Creator of the universe says that we are remarkable and wonderful, how should that change our perspective, the way we see ourselves, our appearance and behaviors?

“But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness. For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
— 1 Timothy 4:7-8

God created us in His image, and it is an act of worship to the Lord to steward our physical bodies well. But most importantly, we are not to stop there. We need to continually push our spiritual growth as much as we train our bodies.

Training in godliness as a Christian means actively pursuing a life that reflects God's character, growing in faith and living in obedience to His Word.

How we appear before God shows the state of our hearts. It is important to take care of our bodies, as God has given them to us to live and love as He does. And it’s important to care for our souls, as our spiritual training builds spiritual muscles and honors God, who wonderfully and purposefully created us.

Let’s appear like Him today.

Article by Jeff Melton, FCA Communications Manager

08/28/2026

Revealing Truth

Ready:
“For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.” —Hebrews 12:3

Set:
Jesus’ disciples once found themselves caught in a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. Waves crashed over the boat. Wind howled. Control slipped away. Their response was emotional—panic, fear, frustration. They did what most of us do under pressure: they tried harder, and judgment froze. Jesus was in the same boat—facing the same storm and the same waves—but He was asleep. When the disciples woke Him, Jesus spoke calmly and rebuked the storm. Then He asked, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Matthew 8:23-27)

That day, the Galilean storm revealed both fear and formation. The storm reactions showed how people respond when God’s Spirit starts renewing their minds. We overlook that Jesus was just another man in the boat—not God pretending to be human. He felt the same wind. He was tossed by the same waves. Yet, His response wasn’t driven by adrenaline and frustration. His composure showed renewal-training that trusted His Father.

Crises reveal spiritual maturity. They show the growth, or lack of, of our training. Pressure exposes whether minds exercise God’s training or revert to self-solutions. That’s why Hebrews 12:3 tells us to “consider” (analogisasthe) Jesus — to analyze how the Holy Spirit renewed Jesus’ mind for pressure-packed moments. Faith is practiced trust. The storm revealed faith-formation. Our faith-formation, and that of fellow believers, is displayed every day in our response to bad calls, blown assignments, frustrating teammates, poor decisions and disappointing performance.

A renewed mind trains for crises before they arrive. It pauses instead of exploding. It speaks calmly instead of firing back. It stays composed instead of spiraling. In sports and life, how do we, and others, react to confrontation and chaos? Renewed minds consider Jesus’ reactions before frustrations and pressure strike. Our reactions, and those of fellow believers, reveal the level of our renewal training when critical moments arise.

Go:
Have you responded, in a game, practice, or relationship, with frustration or calm? What did it reveal about your renewal training?

As you consider (analyze) Jesus, what part of Jesus’ response do you most need re-think?

This week, how will you display faith-training instead of self-effort?

Workout:
Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

6So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 2:6-7

Overtime:
“My God and my Coach, train me to be strong in frustrating moments. Let me respond with a renewed mind that’s trained to trust you. Partner me with others who reveal your faith-formation. Amen.”

08/27/2026

There is power in coming together in prayer. 🙏

The Central Iowa FCA team gathered in prayer after a staff meeting, seeking God’s direction and asking Him to move in the lives of students, coaches, and huddle leaders across our area.

We’re grateful to serve together and excited for all God has in store for this school year! ❤️

Central Iowa FCA

09/02/2026

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