God’s Great Game Plan
“Continue in prayer, and watch
in the same with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2
On this Saturday,
many college football teams across the nation will prepare for a gridiron
battle. However, greater battles of a
spiritual vein are occurring in a less visible arena. As you read these familiar terms from the
football scope, may that prompt us to grow closer to Christ. Here are a few ways to pray today:
Guard: A member
of the offensive line. There are two guards on every play, and they line up on
either side of the offensive center.
Prayer: I claim the
verse in Proverbs, “Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” Lord, be the guard and gatekeeper of my heart
and increase in me an awareness that I have been called to partner with you in
making decisions toward healing and wholeness in every part of my life. As I realize my weakness, your strength comes
in. Thank you Holy Spirit that you are with me.
Hand Check: Legal
defensive back or player technique used to obstruct or adjust a player’s motion.
Prayer: Psalm 24:3, 4
(NIV) says, “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who
does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” Father, do a hand check on me today. Make sure that any soiling or bloodying is
purified by the powerful blood of Jesus.
Home Field
Advantage: The benefit a team gets by
playing games in its own stadium.
Prayer: Father, help me to be a tempo setter in my household. If there are times it becomes a place of
opposition, I pray that you would help me bring change. I want to be a “thermostat” that sets the
temperature rather than a “thermometer” that simply reads the temperature. Make
my home a place where you dwell and you give us an advantage. Joshua 24 says, “As for me and
my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Huddle: When
the 11 players on the field from one team form a group to discuss the upcoming
play.
Prayer: Hebrews says,
“Forsake not the gathering of believers.”
I recommit to the importance of small huddles with friends with whom I
can play and pray; as well as large
huddles at church, where I can be a
blessing and be blessed. Remind me Lord
that while I go to church to hear Your Word and worship, I go to make a
difference in others people’s lives.
Thank you for keeping that before me.
Intentional
Grounding: The quarterback, while he
is still in the area between the tackles, purposely throwing the ball out of
bounds or into the ground to avoid taking a sack.
Prayer: This week, my
prayer is that I would be able to get on my knees or lie prostrate before You
that I would remember that I am submitted to you in every aspect of my
life. When I humble myself in Your
sight, you increase and I must decrease.
You are exalted and others are drawn to you. Help me to hold then posture both literally
and figuratively in my heart in all that I do, because only You are worthy of
my praise.
Out of Bounds: The
area touching or outside the sidelines and end line.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me
where I forget that you have given me your Words of life to avoid stepping out
of bounds. Give me a new mind to see
that your Spirit, Your Scriptures, and Your Salvation have been offered to keep
me in the game. I don’t want to find my
life removing me from playing time, but staying in bounds to experience all
that you have for me. Where I have
stepped out of bounds with my words, cause me to make amends. Where I have
stepped out bounds through my thoughts, bring me back in the game.
Pass: Throwing
the ball so that it ends up further downfield than it started. Prayer:
The un-offended
life is a fulfilling life. Lord, help me
to learn to let things go. We live in a
world that is obsessed with respect.
Even those times where people don’t give me what I want, I will resist
the temptation to react and will pass those offenses onto You.
Whether guarding, hand checking, experiencing your home
field advantage, huddling, or more, let Christ make us more into His image.
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1) Where are you going to
huddle to celebrate Christ this weekend?
2) Ask Him to “guard” your
heart today.
Copyright 2014- Terry Risser
No comments:
Post a Comment