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How a waterski handle and a national championship lead to Shields of Strength

Hi! My name is Kenny Vaughan, and I am a Christian athlete competing in the sport of long distance water-ski jumping. For years, I dreamed of being a world-class skier, but I could not overcome my fear. I am a strong-willed person, so my problem was not fear of injury--my problem was fear of failure--and it was overwhelming.
The bigger the competition--the greater my fear. For fifteen years I tried every human method I could think of to alleviate it, but with no success. I even prayed while I was skiing, especially while racing towards the ramp and launching up into the air. Yet my fear of failure never left.

One evening after training, I began to think I would just have to live with this fear. I decided I would quit fighting this losing battle and leave it in God's hands. As soon as I did that, I began to see things from His perspective.

I realized: I am not incapable-I am a son of the King of Kings! My whole problem is claiming faith in God but focusing on myself instead. Yes, I quote Scripture, and yes, I pray the whole time I ski, but I'm just looking back over my shoulder to test God to see if He is really with me.

If I believe in Him, then I must believe what He says. His Word claims "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matthew 21:22 NIV). So if I really believe, I will pray once, thank Him, then go out and do my best for Him, knowing He is with me. Then His will can be done and I will never fail-no matter what my ranking in the competition.

Right at that moment, for the first time in fifteen years, my fear was gone! What a miracle!

Later that year I competed in the event of a lifetime-the USA Water Ski National Championships. Fifty of the country's best skiers would be there, all competing for the same goal-to become the National Champion. This was the tournament I feared the most.
Nervously waiting my turn in the competition, I watched the skier before me jump five feet better than my personal best! When my turn came to take to the water, I was no longer thinking about skiing for the gold medal. Instead I focused solely on doing my best for Jesus.

Then in my first attempt (we get three), I jumped four feet better than my personal best (but still one foot short of the leader). On my second jump, I mistimed the approach and hung my ski on the side of the ramp, snapping off the rudder and tearing the boot that holds my foot to my ski.

With only five minutes for repairs or a forced forfeit on my last jump, I was able to replace the rudder-but not the boot. As I rode back down the lake for my third and final attempt, the old fear started to creep back. At that moment, I noticed where my wife had written a Bible verse from Philippians on my tow rope handle. Right then, the Lord made it clear to me that until I was finished, I had not done the best I could. A torn boot was only another circumstance over which I had no control. It had nothing to do with giving God my best.

My third and final jump was 179 feet-eleven feet farther than my personal best and enough to win the National Championship!

As a result of what Jesus did for me, I came to know His grace and strength in a whole new way. A few months after the Nationals, I created a dog tag with Scripture on it to honor Christ in a visible way and to remind me of the truth of His Word. When people ask about the tag I always tell them about Jesus and how they can come to know Him, too. I put the prayer of salvation on the back and often take it off my neck and give it freely to anyone who asks.

All of my friends now carry the tags, too. My little brother named the "Shields of Strength" because the Bible says Jesus and His Word are our shield and our strength.

"As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Psalm 18:30

"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Though the earth be removed...Though its waters roar and be troubled..." Psalm 46:1-3

After winning the Nationals, I discovered a new-found desire to reach out to others and tell them about Jesus. I wanted everyone to know about Christ's unconditional love for them, His free offer of forgiveness for their sins and His awesome power available to anyone who asks. I even stitched "Athlete For Christ" on the back of my National Championship jacket-so everyone would know exactly who the True Champion was.

When you fail your whole life trying to overcome something through your own power-and then in a moment it's gone forever-you know without a doubt where True Power comes from.

Kenny Vaughan