Best Available

Each year the NFL Draft provides teams the opportunity to add players they hope will make them better, while also trying to find the right players to fit their needed positions. The team’s draft board is filled with names of players from those specific positions they hope will still be available by the time their team is on the clock. However, as important as it is for teams to fill specific holes on their roster, a key strategy many GMs implement is taking the “best player available” - regardless of position. Sometimes a particular player slips in the draft who wasn’t expected to still be there for their selection, so a team changes their plan and decides to choose the “best player available” instead. When it comes to our own lives, we sometimes think we are lacking certain things like a bigger house or a powerful job or a cooler man cave or more money in the bank, and feel those are the holes that need to be filled in order to have the “good life.” We put those things on our "draft board" in hopes that we have the chance to get them. Those things aren’t necessarily bad (especially a cooler man cave – right?), but if those are the pursuits that drive us and in the process cause us to pass on the “best available,” then I think we’re missing the mark. I believe that following Jesus is the “best available” life we can pursue. A life with Him makes true joy, peace, love, and eternal life available.  All too often we settle for what we want or think we need, instead of trusting that God’s way is best. Psalm 18:30 (NIV) says, “As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s Word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.” As we watch the NFL Draft this weekend and hear them talk about "best available," let’s be reminded to consider whether or not we’re taking the “best available” path God wants to lead us on. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me to follow Your ways. Please give me the strength and determination to choose the best available path that You are guiding me on. Please help me not to get caught up in pursuing things I think I need to fill holes, but can't truly satisfy. Thank you for providing me the best life because of Jesus. In His name, I pray, amen.