College football teams are expected to win every week if they want a chance at the College Football Playoff. They must not only win but also win convincingly.
Of course, the top teams are still going to have bad weeks, and when they do, they just hope to escape with the win. A win is a win as they say, and even if it’s ugly, they just want to survive.
Heather Dinich wrote an article for ESPN.com where she explained how Week 4 in college football was all about survival.
Clemson was tied 7-7 with Boston College in the fourth quarter before they got hot and scored 27 unanswered points.
Oklahoma barely toughed it out but was able to knock off winless Baylor 49-41.
Penn State and Iowa had a wild finish, as the Nittany Lions hung on for the 21-19 win against the unranked Hawkeyes.
USC struggled, but got past Cal...and Michigan trailed Purdue at the half before pulling away.
The bottom line is that the top teams in the country didn’t have big days or do much dominating, but they did survive with a win.
There is a difference between a team thriving and surviving, however, and life can be viewed with a similar perspective. How many of us live in “survival” mode by just trying to keep our heads above water each day? How many of us are just enduring life instead of really enjoying it?
Sometimes we can't control the circumstances, but often we’re in this position because of poor choices and misguided mindsets.
Instead of barely getting by, we should be living with joy and peace and striving for meaning and purpose. We will certainly have bad days from time to time, but we can't allow them to become the norm.
Although our lives aren’t perfect as followers of Jesus, they should represent a level of thriving that is rooted in wisdom, love, joy, and peace. We won't score a touchdown every time, but we can take action to make sure our lives are fruitful and convincingly different.
Jesus reminds us in John 10:10 (ESV), "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
This same verse in the Amplified translation tells us, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance ."
Today, let’s not settle for just getting through the week and barely surviving with a win. Instead, let’s follow Jesus toward a life of abundance...fullness...and one that is convincingly victorious!
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess I lack joy and peace at times, and I just try to survive the day. I pray my perspective would change so that my life would be filled with meaning and purpose, as I trust and follow You. I want to live in Your abundance and victory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Comments