Only Step On The Mound When You're Ready To Pitch

Pitchers control the speed of the game. Some pitchers like to speed the game up and step right back on the rubber, while others slow the game down and take their time between each pitch. Depending on the situation, pitchers may have to change their pace in order to change the momentum of the game. If a pitcher finds himself pitching too fast, his control will falter and he's in danger of mentally spiraling out of control. Likewise, a slower pitcher may have to speed things up to keep his defense in the game. Whatever the situation may be, there is a golden rule that every pitcher must abide by. The rule is: Only step on the mound when you're ready to pitch. If you find yourself frustrated about the last pitch in any way, don't rush yourself back to the mound. Even during your best outings, you're going to have a moment where things can potentially get out of control. The key to staying in control is to keep positive thoughts and not let yourself lose control of your emotions. When a pitcher starts pounding his glove and covering his mouth to swear, it should give the opposing team confidence. In Heads-Up Baseball by Ken Ravizza it says, "Designate the mound as a place where only positive, productive thoughts and attitudes are allowed. If you feel negative stuff during the game, get off the mound; don't come back up until you're ready to have a positive focus on this next pitch. It's OK to get upset; you're not a robot. Just recognize when you are upset and get off the mound." You can designate a spot behind the mound to go to when you're frustrated. Here, you can prepare to throw your next pitch and flush out any negative thoughts about the umpire, other team, or yourself.

In this scenario imagine yourself as the pitcher, and Satan as the opposing batter. He is the big cleanup hitter that intimidates all pitchers he faces. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (1 Peter 5:8) Satan is the best batter you will ever face. He knows your strengths, weakness, what makes you happy, what makes you mad, what makes you sad, and he knows how to make you feel down on yourself. Don't lose heart just because he's hard to beat, because he's far from invincible. Remember that you are the pitcher, and you're in control of the speed of the game; but if you allow it, the batter can control you.

So how can we step onto the mound, or step out into the world each morning, ready to face Satan and his team of demons? Like the pitchers mound, we must have a place where only positive thoughts are allowed. Before leaving the house each morning, it's essential to have a heart-to-heart talk with our Heavenly Father. It can be at the bedside, beside a desk, or in front of a couch. Wherever it is, make it yours to mentally prepare for the day ahead. Although we have natural enmity towards Satan, he still has a way of persuading us to sin. Without the constant power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Satan will lull us into a spiritual sleep and drag us down. Even though his temptations are enticing, "he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (2 Nephi 2:27) It is crucial that we call upon the power of God each morning before we leave each day. Satan is working tirelessly until he will no longer have any influence on us. Just imagine if we all worked as hard to do good as Satan does to persuade us. He would be irrelevant. Until then, mentally prepare yourself each day by kneeling down in earnest prayer, call upon the power of the Atonement of Christ, and be an example of the believers in the latter days.