The Desperate Warriors

The Golden State Warriors won 73 games during the regular season, but right now they are down 3-1 in their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s crazy how they are losing the series, and unbelievable how poorly they are playing. Game 4 was especially ugly with a blowout of 118-94. To turn the series around, Steph Curry and Draymond Green must return to their high level of play, and the team must slow down Russell Westbrook. Tonight, the Warriors face an elimination game and are absolutely desperate for a win. They desire to get back to the NBA Finals, and obviously need to win game 5 at home to keep the door open. In sports, we love the closeout game in a series because we see teams play with such passion and desperation. In our own lives, we also experience situations that make us feel desperate. The definition of desperate is “having a great need or desire for something.” These types of feelings play out when we’re trying to land a job or find a spouse or buy a house or have a baby. Although the difference between a need and a desire can become blurred, nonetheless, we are desperate for something to happen. I think this definition is a wonderful way to consider how we view God. Do we realize our great need for Him and do we have a great desire for Him? Are we desperate to know, honor, follow and glorify Him? Or are we more desperate for other things that end up taking priority over Him? The Bible says in Psalm 63:1 (ESV), “O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 145:18-19 (ESV) gives us this promise: “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them.” As we think about how desperate the Warriors are to win tonight’s game, let’s seek to shift our desperate actions and thoughts toward the One we truly need. When we recognize our need for Jesus more and more, our desire for Him will intensify and we will fall to our knees in humble desperation. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I need You and I’m desperate to know You more. Help my desire for You to intensify, so that I will earnestly seek You. Forgive me for being more desperate for other things and making them a priority over You. I need You, Lord, and I’m sorry for the times I forget that. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.