High school football teams are back under the Friday night lights. Energetic cheerleaders, wispy pom poms, and school colors wave with youthful exuberance. Pep band members play their school song in full enthusiasm while classmates stomp the bleachers, cheer for the guys on the field, and flirt with the students around them. Football moms pray and sweat it out in the stands, proudly displaying their sons’ pictures on their mascot sweatshirts.
It’s football season.
I’m in my happy place.
I remember watching my favorite-youngest-nephew Scottie lead the Minnetonka Skippers as quarterback to a homecoming victory over 10 years ago. One of my favorite football memories.
Our family cheered, screamed, yelled, high-fived, and laughed as we watched Scottie play his heart out. We could not have been more excited when his passes were completed and the touchdowns were made. And when he got sacked, we stopped breathing.
Nothing was more important than Scottie that night. We didn’t miss a moment.
I bet that’s how God watches us. He is completely focused on our every decision, action, touchdown, and fumble. He sees every tackle, interception, run or pass.
He cares for us, celebrates with us, and hurts with us.
We may not be playing football, but we are in this amazing game called LIFE. Every play is different. Team members come and go. Our opponent tries a variety of tactics and play calls to keep us out of the game. We score. We miss. We celebrate. We get frustrated. Refs make bad calls. Fans get unruly. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.
And in every single moment, God is right there in the game with us.
Not only is He in the stands calling our name and cheering for us…
He’s calling our plays.
He’s running with us down the 30-yard line.
He’s picking us up when we stumble.
He’s blocking for us when the big guys are driving.
He’s getting us the Gatorade on the sidelines when we need a rest.
He’s showing us when we’ve messed up, and what needs to change.
He’s getting us back in the game when we drop the ball.
He’s giving us high-fives.
God knows exactly what we need to make it through life playing our best game.
He gives us His presence. His attention.
There is no team, no player, no play call, no quarterback, no defense, no ref, no coach that is bigger or stronger than what God offers us so we can play a great game – so we can live a great life.
God makes it possible for us to get in the game, stay in the game, and play our best game.
“Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. [I mean, WOW!] Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.” (Isaiah 40:26)
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)
It’s football season. Time to play.
Invite God into your game.
