One of the biggest questions heading into the NFL season is how well (and how quickly) will Russell Wilson fit in with the Denver Broncos. The team has plenty of offensive weapons, and after trading for Wilson in the offseason, they’re counting on him to be a reliable and effective quarterback. Throughout his career, Wilson has demonstrated the skills and intangibles necessary to win consistently, yet despite being a veteran, he’s still learning. Wilson apparently learns from watching other sports. In Peter King’s "Football Morning in America" article on NBCsports.com, he asks Wilson about attending Wimbledon earlier this year and “what he learned from the great tennis players that means something in his professional life.” Wilson said, “Well, I think I learned, one serve at a time. One serve at a time. One serve at a time. Just the ability to go in and go out, to regain your focus. To be able to…The crowd roars, and the crowd boos, ‘ahh,’ ‘ooh,’ and the crowd roars again. One serve at a time. One stroke at a time. It’s just, one moment at a time. I think that that is what you gain. "That’s what I search for when I watch sports. One free throw at a time for Steph Curry. One shot, one moment, one pitch, one at-bat. You know? The ability to refocus, to refocus, to refocus, to refocus, to refocus, over and over and over and over again. That’s what tennis is. That’s why I went to Wimbledon. It was an amazing experience.” Tennis and football are very different, yet like most sports, they require a "one play at a time" approach, and the very best athletes understand how to refocus after each one. Similarly, in our own lives, we must take the approach of living one moment at a time or one hour at a time, or one day at a time, and have “the ability to refocus, to refocus, to refocus, to refocus, to refocus, over and over and over and over again.” As followers of Jesus, because we're in a constant battle for our soul, our mind, and our heart, we must continue to refocus ourselves on God’s truth, His will, and His promises one moment at a time. Romans 8:5 (AMP) tells us, “For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh , but those who are living according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit .” Unfortunately, it’s very easy for us to get distracted by the “crowd’s ahhs and oohs” or to dwell on the previous “play” or be anxious about the next one. That’s why we must refocus on God’s presence in our lives, yielding to the Spirit as we think about the right things one moment at a time. Paul explains in Philippians 4:8 (AMP), “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things .” Colossians 3:2 (NIV) simply says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” This is challenging for us because all too often we get caught up in the stresses, temptations, and mindsets of the world. However, let’s be encouraged every day to diligently try “to refocus, to refocus, to refocus,” back on what matters most. When Jesus was asked what the law's greatest commandment was, He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39; ESV). When life gets complicated and overwhelming or when we start worrying about outcomes, or when distractions flood our minds, we must remember to refocus on loving God and loving people “one serve at a time.” I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess I get distracted, worried, and overwhelmed, but I pray You would help me refocus on loving You and loving others. I desire to set my mind on things above and not on earthly things, and I pray I would refocus my heart and mind on what is true according to Your Word. Help me to live moment by moment, aware of Your presence with my attention on You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What is your process to refocus each day on the right things?
What causes you to lose your focus on God?
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