The NFL preseason is taking place right now and this past weekend we saw young players fighting for a roster spot and veterans proving they still belong as the starters.
The preseason is designed to get players warmed up for the regular season while giving coaches a chance to evaluate which players belong on their team this year.
Since the preseason doesn’t count toward a team’s record, winning these games isn’t a top priority for most coaches. They’re always glad to win if they do, but not concerned if they don’t. These are just exhibition games and the desire to win isn’t very strong for most.
However, the Baltimore Ravens seem to have a different approach, as they’ve now won a record 22 straight preseason games. They haven’t lost an exhibition game since 2016, which is remarkable considering third and fourth stringers play in the fourth quarter.
Even though many people discredit what the Ravens have accomplished in the preseason, I love how it demonstrates a winning culture and shows that winning is always important to them.
Every time they step on the field (regardless of who is playing or what part of the season it is), they want to win, their goal is to win, and they expect to win.
Of course, just because they want to win every game doesn’t mean they do, but their winning culture and preseason success since 2016 has extended into their regular season by having a 60-37 record. Since 2016, they’ve won 62 percent of their regular season games and averaged ten wins a season.
In recognizing how the Ravens value winning and do a lot of it, what if we drop the “it’s just preseason” attitude and embrace always having a winning mentality in our own lives?
As followers of Jesus, we must stop acting like supposed meaningless things don’t matter when in reality they do.
What if instead of downplaying certain activities or situations, we approached them with a consistent winning attitude, so that everything we do and how we do it matters and has the opportunity to bring God glory?
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) tells us, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
What if we did everything to please, honor, and make much of God?
What if we never turned off our passion for winning people to Christ?
What if we viewed every time we stepped “on the field” as an opportunity to serve Jesus and point people to Him?
Colossians 3:17 (AMP) says, “Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Today, let’s embrace a “winning culture” that approaches life through the lens of eternity…desires to bring God glory in everything we do…and knows that nothing we do for Him is ever “just a meaningless preseason game.”
Let’s focus on this life-changing challenge in Colossians 3:23-24 (AMP): “Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please teach me to view every day as a chance to serve You and bring You glory. Help me not to downplay certain situations or tasks, but instead do everything in Your name as I work from the soul. I pray my life would be marked by a winning attitude that is rooted in living for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
- What areas of your life need to have a winning attitude and approach?
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What is something in your life that you’ve downplayed or not taken seriously that you could do in a way that brings God glory?
