Monday Morning Devotion-January 27, 2020

That's Just Super

"For I know the plans I have for you," declared the Lord.  "Plans to prosper you not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

*From seven Super Bowls ago!

      Super Bowl Sunday!  It has practically become a National Holiday in America. What transpires on the gridiron over a three-and-a-half-hour period will shape many lives.  The two Super teams in 2020, Kansas City and San Francisco, have survived a long hard season.  Of 32 teams who trained and practiced and played hard every weekend these two are the last ones standing.  After this game is over only one team will be standing.

            Memories from this game will follow many of the players and their fans the rest of their lives.  Make a big mistake in front of an international audience watching on television and it may plague you for the rest of your days. There are no do-overs.  To make amends you would have to wait an entire year until the next Super Bowl comes up.  And chances are good that your team will not be there.  Lots of players play an entire career and never get to be in a Super Bowl, much less are they fortunate enough to play in two, back-to-back.

            On the other hand, the player who has the good fortune to make the huge play, and have the big game, the one who is in the right place at the right time will forever be a hero.  There aren't a whole lot of them.

            As Will Rogers once said:  "We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.

            But, no matter what happens in the game.  Even if it is being a member of the losing team or the losing fan base, something good can come out of the bad.  Sometimes bad things happen for good reasons.

            Tony Dungy certainly had his share of ups and downs in his football coaching career.  After he was fired by the Tampa Bay Bucs they went on to win a Super Bowl under their new coach.  Undeterred Dungy accepted an offer to become the Coach of the Indianapolis Colts took them to the NFL Playoffs eventually winning a Super Bowl while the Bucs languished playoff-less in the lower regions of their division.

            Dungy believes it is all about keeping the faith and understanding that good can come from what seems bad.  He said, "With anything that comes across my desk, if I pray about it and ask for the Lord's direction, He's going to work those situations for His glory.  It will be for the best, and it will succeed.  Maybe not the success the world would see, but success in His eyes."  That was Dungy's attitude when he was fired, and it was his attitude when he was hired.  It seems to work well for him and will for us.

            We never know what is in God's overall plan.  We just have to trust him like Dungy does and stay open to where we are being led because we are being positioned there for a purpose.  He is putting things into motion right now that will cause that plan to unfold for you to be successful. 

            In Dungy's case, while he was coaching Tampa Bay, the Indianapolis Colts owner Bill Polian was making a decision that would greatly impact Tony's future.  The Colts had been so bad the year before that they had the number one pick of college football players.  Faced with a choice of QB Ryan Leaf (Washington State) or Peyton Manning (Tennessee) he chose Manning.

            Leaf's NFL career fizzled while Manning, playing under Dungy, led the Colts to the Super Bowl and they won it.

            So, decisions made before Dungy was even with that team affected his future and put him among the elite coaches who have won Super Bowls.

            God is working non-stop in our lives.  Sometimes we can't see the progress because there are other deals to be done, things to get straightened out or put in order before His plan for you can be fully implemented. 

            You never know when it will be your Super Sunday.  When God's plan will become immediately clear.  Like the wide receiver running wide open into the end zone in the biggest game of his life---the Super Bowl.  He has left the defender behind.   The pass is spiraling in his direction.

            He has the opportunity to be the hero or spend a lot of time thinking about what could have been.  He could have that MVP trophy.  It is his for the taking---uh, catching.  All he has to do is catch the ball.

            If thoughts of how important this catch is to his life, his teammates, his family and friends become the momentary focus he may tighten up and not catch the ball.

            He must focus on the ball, look it into his hands and most important of all catch it then not fall down.

            When we work hard, and we wait on God we have to be ready to make the catch when the ball starts coming our way.  Losing focus, not being ready and not completing the assignment will make us one of those guys who is sitting on the sidewalk clapping for the heroes--- the ones who did complete their task. 

            Jeremiah, the prophet, was called on for a Super-Bowl-size task.  He had to keep the exiled Israelites together, not let them lose hope, and keep them focused on the prize.  He didn't want them to drop the ball when it was finally headed in their direction.

            So, he reminded them that their God, the same one who brought their ancestors out of captivity still had a plan for them.  He wanted them to stay focused on the positives and not let their discontent with their current situation keep them from being ready when the ball was thrown their way.

            So, he reminded them that God still had a plan for them.  He has one for us.  So be ready when it comes your way, so you will reap Super Bowl sized rewards.

Prayer:  Lord help us to be ready when you send those Super Bowl sized moments filled with blessings our way.   Amen!