Was this a weird weekend for football or what? Wait….you DO watch football, right?
If so (and you should), you know the Bengals lost last night in the last couple minutes of the game. They had the game in the bag and….well, it was a tough loss.
Then, this afternoon, the Vikings had a chance to beat the Seahawks in the last play of the game with a field goal and….well, it was a tough loss.
Sometimes, things don’t go our way. 2015 is a prime example for me~ I couldn’t catch a break at all! But, as I was watching these games and thinking about it just now, I realized there was much to learn about what happened.
As broken hearted as the losing team was (and some were crying, friends. Grown, gigantic men unable to compose themselves when the agony of defeat took over)….as broken and angry and frustrated and sad as they were, they will not quit playing football. They will likely retreat for a bit to process the setback to their dream and then, at some point, they’ll throw the ball around a little bit. They’ll be able to talk about the defeat and not cry. They’ll suit up in full pads and show up to training camp. They’ll be back on the field for the 2016/2017 season and the difference will be that they will take the experience with them. They’ll understand more clearly how sweet victory is because they’ve been on the other side. They’ll appreciate the wins a lot more than they ever would have without the loss. One thing is for sure, though; they’re not going to quit. They have resolve.
Life is kind of the same, isn’t it? We can let some relational, financial, emotional or medical setback take us out of the game entirely if we forget that quitting isn’t an option. Resolve is the key. Make up your mind to not quit and instead learn from the experience… that’s all we need to do! I prefer the idea of suiting up and taking the experience with me so that when I WIN, I will appreciate it all the more. It will be sweeter. I won’t take it for granted. I will learn from it. I will use it.
IT WILL NOT USE ME.
The fast is fine. I drank a lot of water today and spent a great deal of time dealing with a full bladder but I’m good… I’m committed. I’m absolutely, 100% confident that God is going to provide breakthroughs in the next 21 days and so I’m not freaking out about the lack of dessert and coffee~ I’m feeling pretty blessed that I can eat until I’m full and God smiles upon me for this little “sacrifice”. Seems so little for me to do, really……this was breakfast.
Tomorrow, I begin facilitating my 6th (I think it’s the 6th?) online bible study with “Love God Greatly” and our curriculum is PRAYER. How awesome is that timing! The fast is in full gear, the bible is open and my time spent in prayer is ramped up. This is spiritual warfare, friends, and I’m ready.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
Amy