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CBN.com – Last year, the sports world took notice of Shaun Alexander. He won the league’s Most Valuable Player award thanks in part to his 28 touchdowns and leading the league in rushing. That’s not all, he’s the only player in NFL history to score 15 or more touchdowns in five straight seasons. And how about this one? He’s the only one to ever score five touchdowns…in one half! But this is one humble superstar?
“I am a Christian that loves the Lord that just happens to play football,” Shaun says, “that happens to get to be on cool TV shows, that happens to get to be on commercials. I’m a Godly man first. I chase after God. I play football for the sole reason to give God Glory.”
Considering opposing defenses spend a week trying to figure out how to stop him, he doesn’t seem to feel much pressure.
“I honestly believe that I’m supposed to do everything that I can do to the best of my ability, and God takes care of the rest,” Shaun say. “How can you worry if your Father’s taking care of everything? The God that created the world says, ‘I got you; just give Me the best you got.’”
Shaun also gives God all he has off the field – sharing his faith every chance he gets.
“I believe it’s my job to give you truth and be a light. If you ask me, I’m going to tell you the truth about Jesus Christ walking on Earth and saving souls and dying on a cross.”
This strong faith in Jesus started at a young age for Shaun. And he’s never looked back.
“My first prayer was really simple,” Shaun recalls. “I was like, ‘God, I don't know much but I do know how to be obedient.’ That was my first prayer [at] 10 years old.
“That’s just how I live my life -- chasing after Christ, finding new ways to get closer to Him. I want to do what children of God do, and that’s go all out for Christ.”
That means staying in the hotel and away from parties and clubs that his teammates go to.
“When you start breaking down things in the Bible and your chasing after the Bible, you’re saying, ‘Hey I’m gonna be obedient no matter what I feel like I want to do. That’s picking up your cross daily.’”
But isn’t it difficult being a Christian in the NFL?
“I crack jokes with people when they say it’s hard being a Christian. To me it’s not hard. The hardest thing is choosing whether you’re going to go all out or not.”
Shaun’s had disappointments. A few years ago he lost the rushing title by one yard. Last year the Seahwaks lost in the Super Bowl. His favorite verse keeps him grounded.
“My life scripture is Psalms 37:4, ‘Delight yourself in the Lord, and He’ll give you the desires of your heart.’ It is just a reminder to me to take joy in what God’s doing in your life. Take joy in learning about Him, everyday grow because He delights in us.”
But for those times of trial he faces in his personal life, he sees a comparison to challenges on the field.
“You’re never gonna be perfect,” says Shaun. “But you're always gunning for it. You’re usually tired of going through this battle, and that’s when you gotta go back and depend on God. You’ll have a bad play, and then the next thing you know you make the greatest play that anyone’s ever seen. You’re always in that fatigue where you’re crying out for a little bit more. ‘God, give me a little bit more strength.’ That's kind of how it is in football and in Christ."
No matter how famous he becomes or how wealthy he gets, for Shaun Alexander, it all comes down to one thing.
“[There] is only one way to do it, and that’s the way the Bible says it,” Shaun says. “That’s the way Jesus Christ showed it and lived it, and that’s it."
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