The Man In The Mirror

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​Date: Tuesday September 29, 2026
Scripture: Daniel 6:1-23
 
THE MAN IN THE MIRROR 
When the Pressure Comes
Daniel 6:1–23 (NKJV)
 
Every coach in this room knows something about pressure. Pressure to win. Pressure from parents. Pressure from administrators. Pressure from players. Pressure to make the right call when everybody thinks you're wrong.
But here's the thing about pressure: Pressure doesn't create your character. It reveals it. Anybody can look like a great leader when everything is going right. The real question is: Who are you when things go wrong? Who are you when nobody is watching? Who are you when the decision costs you something? Who are you when doing the right thing means doing the hard thing?
Today we're going one step further: what happens when your character gets tested under pressure?
 
Before Bible Study tomorrow read Daniel Chapter 6
 
1. DANIEL DIDN'T BECOME FAITHFUL WHEN THE CRISIS CAME
Daniel 6:3–4 (NKJV)
“Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he
was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.”
His enemies went looking. They examined his life. They looked for something they could use against him. And they couldn't find it. Not because Daniel was perfect, but because his life was consistent.
His public life matched his private life.
 
COACHING QUESTION:
If somebody watched your life away from the field for 30 days, what would they discover about you? 
Would they see the same man your players see? 
The same man your staff sees? 
The same man who stands in front of the team on Friday night?
That's leadership. Not the speech. Not the headset. Not the title. Consistency.
 
 
 
2. THE ENEMY FOUND THE ONE THING DANIEL WOULD NOT COMPROMISE
 
Daniel 6:5 (NKJV)
“We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” They knew exactly where Daniel stood. They couldn't attack his work, so they attacked his faith.
 
Daniel 6:10 (NKJV)
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”
 
As was his custom. That's the key. Daniel didn't suddenly become a prayer warrior because he was in trouble. He didn't suddenly develop faith because the lions were coming. He was already doing it.
 
 

FOOTBALL APPLICATION: The habits you build when nobody is watching become the decisions you make when everybody is watching. You don't suddenly become disciplined on Friday night. You built that person on Monday morning.
The fourth quarter reveals the first quarter of your preparation. Pressure reveals the man you've been becoming.
3. DANIEL KNEW THE COST — AND DID IT ANYWAY
 
Daniel knew the law. He knew the consequences. He knew exactly what could happen. And he prayed anyway. Sometimes doing the right thing still costs you. Sometimes telling the truth costs you. Sometimes standing up for a kid costs you. Sometimes protecting your staff costs you. Sometimes admitting you were wrong costs you. What is your integrity worth?
A coach can teach a play. A coach can teach technique. A coach can teach or demand toughness. But one of the greatest things a coach can teach a young man is: “There are some things you don't sell—no matter what it costs.”
 
Please put some thought into these questions before Bible Study.
1. Who are you when you lose? Not when you win. When you lose. How do you treat people?
2. Who are you when you're angry? What comes out of you when you don't get your way? Pressure doesn't put something in you. It pulls something out of you.
3. What would your players say is your greatest strength as a leader? And the harder question: What would they say is your greatest weakness?
4. Is there anything you demand from your players that you don't consistently demand from yourself? Discipline? Accountability? Preparation? Attitude? Effort? Respect?
5. If your players became exactly like you, would you be proud of the men they became? That's the mirror.
Number 5 comes with many facets: if your son becomes exactly like you would you be proud of the man he has become. If your son in law treats your daughter exactly like you treat your wife? Would you be happy with that?