The NFL is back and last night’s game confirmed the reigning Super Bowl champs are ready to go on their pursuit of a repeat. The Kansas City Chiefs won 34-20 against the Houston Texans and they absolutely controlled the game.
The Chiefs picked up right where they left off in February and the Texans' defense had no answers to slow down quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. Rookie running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, also lived up to the offseason hype in his first NFL game, scoring a touchdown.
The only real issue the Chiefs had last night came from the sidelines as their head coach, Andy Reid, was up against it with his protective face shield continually fogging up.
I’m sorry, but I love when silly things like this happen in sports, especially when it involves a guy like Reid who has a good sense of humor.
Reid was wearing the shield because of Covid-19, of course, but the poor coach could barely see out of it and it seemed to keep getting worse.
Social media had plenty of jokes and memes about this quirky mishap throughout the game and I’m still getting a kick out of it. Just imagine how much better the Chiefs would have been last night if their coach could have seen the field clearly!
As funny as I found this to be, I want to use it as a serious encouragement for us today. We can all admit there are times in our lives where everything seems foggy and unclear.
Our life seems to lack visibility and we can find ourselves in situations where we can’t tell what’s really going on or don’t know what to do next. It can be very frustrating as we look through our cloudy “face shield.”
Thankfully, as followers of Jesus, we can find clarity as we pursue Him and trust Him because He’s the one who provides us clear eyes and clear minds.
We can pray a similar prayer that Paul describes in Ephesians 1:15-19 (Paraphrased in The Message translation):
“That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks.
"But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear so that you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for His followers, oh, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him—endless energy, boundless strength!”
God has so much planned for us in this life and the next and even though we can’t fully understand everything, we can have focused and clear eyes to see what He’s calling us to do right now.
The reality is that our “face shield” fogs up when we start trying to do things in our own energy or strength instead of asking Him to help us discern what His will is.
We also have to be aware of what we’re filling our minds with and who we’re listening to. Are we seeking truth or are our minds foggy and confused because we’re hearing the wrong voices?
Paul gives this warning and encouragement to Timothy that's relevant for us to consider today:
“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
"But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you” (2 Timothy 4:3-5; NLT).
We know that a cloudy mind or a foggy vision is no laughing matter, so let’s find clarity and discernment through prayer and Scripture, as God reveals His truth and His will to us as we focus our eyes on Him.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to know You personally and I pray You’d help me discern Your will for my life. Help me have clarity about what You’re calling me to do right now. I pray my eyes would be clear and focused to see You and the right path You have for my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
In what ways are you dealing with confusion or fogginess right now?
Has there been a time when God made something abundantly clear for you to do?
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