Weekly Devotion March 17 2025

This Devotion was written by Sportsmen Devotional and posted with permission

 Bible Study Verse: Colossians 3:23-24

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. NLT.

Thoughts: My mentor in outdoor writing, Mark Strand, is a staunch turkey hunter—even more so than I am. In one of his books (Turkey Camp), he wrote a chapter called Victory Pancakes. It describes a unique reward for being successful in the turkey woods. Strand’s dad introduced him to the idea of a reward for harvesting a spring gobbler, which became a tradition. Strand passed on the tradition to his kids and every hunter he could infect. After reading this chapter, I’ve adopted the tradition myself. I take the time to reward myself with a large stack of pancakes and all the fixings that go along with them for every gobbler I am blessed with.

Action Point: Everyone likes rewards. At work, we like bonuses and raises. When we work hard for long stretches, we like vacations and time off. We want to catch a trophy bass, trout, or crappie when we fish. And we always dream of being rewarded with a large, heavy-horned buck when we deer hunt. You know what I’m saying. Being a Christian has the ultimate reward—knowing Christ. We have the promise (reward) of eternal life and a restored relationship with God through Jesus.

Sportsman’s Tip of the Day: Sportsmen and women understand that rewards in outdoor sports come from consistent effort, discipline, a positive mindset, and patience. Patience is key. Focus on the process rather than the outcome. This results in steady improvement and turns small victories into significant achievements. Check out the E-book Turkey Camp. You can read the chapter on victory pancakes along with some good turkey hunting stories and tips on camping set-ups. Just go to Amazon Books and search. You will find it there or on Kindle.