Los Angeles Angels center fielder, Mike Trout, is considered one of the best players in Major League Baseball. In his eighth season, Trout impressively ranks in the top three for six different statistical categories in the American League, including first in home runs.

His career has included MVP awards in 2014 and 2016, and his name is already in the mix with all-time greats like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gehrig (based on his adjusted OPS+).

Despite consistently playing at such a high level, ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote an article about Trout’s “commitment to relentless self-improvement.”

Olney describes how Trout “attacks his own weaknesses,” how he “continues to get better,” and how every year there continue to be “signs that he is improving as a player.”

Trout’s teammate Kole Calhoun says, “If there is some part of his game where he can get better, he will work to get better.”

He’s willing to take advice from others and his third-base coach Dino Ebel explains, “He wants to win and get better. This is what drives this guy.”

Making strides in his game is clearly evident with Trout’s improved swing-and-miss rate, his altered approach to high fastballs, and his stronger defense in the outfield.

After winning a couple of MVPs, Trout could easily ride it out and not be focused on improving his game. However, that’s not what he’s chosen to do and should motivate us to improve “our game” in multiple areas of our lives – especially to grow in our faith and character.

1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT) tells us, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

We know how broken, weak, and flawed we are, but as we seek Jesus and strive to become more like Him, we’ll begin to reflect Him more and more.

Our “commitment to relentless self-improvement” isn’t about being better for selfish gain, but rather being more effectively equipped to serve God and others. We should look for the areas of our lives that need God’s transforming power to change us for the better.

Mike Trout isn’t willing to allow parts of his game to remain weak without working on them. We, too, shouldn’t settle for character flaws without inviting Jesus to improve us from the inside out. It’s His strength and Spirit living in us that lead to the growth we need.

Today, as we think about Mike Trout’s desire to continually better himself as a baseball player, let’s consider the areas of our lives that need the most improvement.

Let’s be encouraged by 2 Peter 3:18 (AMP), “…but grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory (honor, majesty, splendor), both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to continually grow and become more spiritually mature. I don’t want to remain the same or settle, but rather rely on Your strength and power to constantly change me to become more like Jesus. It’s in His name I pray, Amen.