We were able to talk with with NFL quarterback, Mark Sanchez, to talk about how he is living in the increase of Christ, his faith journey and the mentors that have been in his life. Here’s what he had to say.

What effect does your faith have on your lifestyle?

Faith effects who you choose to be around. My dad always told me that if you want to be successful, you hang around people who are successful; if you want to be a good disciple, you’ll want to be around people who will disciple you. I try to surround myself with people who will strengthen and challenge me in my faith.

The days that go the best for me are those where I give my first and best to the Lord. I wake up and go to the Lord, getting in the Word, and go to bed I give it all back to Him, coming back to what’s most important.

Describe how your Journey with Christ began.

I remember being in church with my mom on Easter Sunday when I was young. I was seeing all these people praising God, they were so full of joy. I turned to my mom and said, “I want what those people have.” That day I gave my life to Christ, accepting Him as my Savior.

Who have been the mentors in your life? How did God bring these people into your life?

My dad really hammered home the importance of being a gentlemen and my mom has been so instrumental in my spiritual growth. It was my mom that lead me to the faith; she was always having Bible studies at our house for kids when I was growing up. She has always constantly prayed for her boys, and I’m so thankful for that. She is a great woman of faith, and I’ve watched her prove that through all the hard circumstances that she’s gone through—She has always been faithful to the Lord. I have also looked up to my two older brothers in their hard work ethic.

I listen to a lot of sermons from Greg Laurie and Miles McPherson, who have been really instrumental in my spiritual walk as well. They press me and challenge me to be a better man of Christ.

What does the Increase of Christ mean to you?

The more you decrease yourself the more you let Christ take over. When that happens, suddenly things take place in your life that you can’t explain—I see that in my life all the time. I know that God is in control and the closer to God that I get, the more He blesses me. That doesn’t mean that there is not adversity, but in either adversity of success, I always find that God is greater.

What are your life verses? 

A few of my favorite verse, which help me keep my eyes on the Lord are:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” -Jeremiah 17:7-8

and

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” -Matthew 6:34

Check out Mark’s full profile on The Increase: http://theincrease.com/author/mark-sanchez/

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