A Winning Attitude

The JV team at my son’s high school made and incredible come back win this past week. The team was losing 21 – 2 at halftime. They’ve had a rough year up to this point and came into this particular game as underdogs. But something happened in the locker room that changed the hearts of the players for the rest of the game. We’re not sure if it was something the coach said or if the boys just got tired of losing that brought them together for that second half. But whatever it was, the change was evident in the team's play and the final outcome of the game. Our team won 24 – 21!
Whenever you experience a win like that, it’s inspirational for everybody – the players, the coaches, the trainers, the fans, the parents, etc… But we sometimes forget that the preparation process for winning required a lot more than showing up to play and a motivational halftime talk. These boys put a lot into getting ready for this game. As I said, they have had a rough year – in fact, they hadn’t won a game up to this point. And with every successive loss, the weekly practice sessions grew to be more and more challenging. These young men have taken and inflicted numerous bumps and bruises on one another as they’ve tried to implement new strategies and prepare physically for their first illusive victory. And not only has the physical challenge great, but the mental challenge has been equally as daunting. It’s not easy to overcome a losing attitude. When you’ve been beaten down on the practice field and had to endure numerous beatings on game night, it’s easy to give in to a defeatist attitude and settle for second best. But this night was different and the boys rose to the occasion. They steadfastly refused to give up, and in the end, celebrated a great comeback win over a favored opponent!
Sometimes in our faith walk it would be much easier to settle for second best and stop pursuing the dreams God gives us for our lives. I see so many people with a desire to make a difference in the world for Christ, but so often the setbacks, disappointments and discouraging words from other people leads them to develop a defeatist attitude. But if we truly desire to accomplish something great for God’s glory, we may as well accept the fact that there will be bumps and bruises along the way. We’ll have more than our share of scars and wounds in the process. There may be times when we question whether or not the pursuit is worth the effort. In my own life, I’ve wondered, “Why am I wasting my time doing this? I could be trout fishing! Why am I beating my head against the wall trying to love and encourage people that will never change?” But in the end, I have to either find the courage to change my attitude and continue to pursue the dream or lay down and quit. Sometimes life would be alot easier without all the headaches and the strife, but that's the price of following the dreams God has given me. And if they're His dreams, He is with us all the way... As I heard one fellow pastor say, "If it's God's deal, He'll pay the bill." God will supply all that we need to follow His dream.
Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t give up on the Father’s dream? He endured the bumps and bruises of His assigned mission on earth and won the victory so we could receive the victor’s crown. And now, He has entrusted the treasure of His grace to us so that we can share His hope and love in this world. If that can only happen thru brokenness, bruises and wounds and hurt, then so be it; it’s worth the pain. For there is far greater joy than pain when we see God take our brokenness and demonstrate His glory in and thru our lives… May we all keep that attitude as we serve our Lord.
We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)
Do as Paul said, “forgetting what’s behind, we press ahead towards the mark of the high calling in Christ…”

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