During a unique NBA season, many teams have proven to be competitive and in the hunt for a playoff spot. A surprising team to move up the standings is one of the most popular franchises, the New York Knicks.
Their passionate and loyal fan base has seen the team struggle immensely over the past two decades, but now they are 18-17 and have a winning record after 35 games (only the third time in the last 20 years).
Excitement and hope are brewing based on this winning team that is made up of underrated free-agent signings, impressive draft picks, and overachieving league castoffs. They are much improved thanks to the impactful addition of new head coach, Tom Thibodeau.
The Knicks find themselves in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings today, but players can't look too far ahead since there is plenty of the season left to be played.
Fans appear optimistic about the future of their team, but they worry if this team can keep things heading in the right direction. They know how their Knicks have let them down in the past so they have to avoid thinking about the previous seasons of failure. Otherwise, they may lose their joy for what this current team is presently doing and lessen their hope for the future.
Coach Thibodeau stresses the importance of his team properly focusing on the past, present, and future with these recent comments:
“Just like I don’t want us looking ahead, I don’t want us looking behind and what happened in the past. It’s important to know the history of the organization, that part is important, but our focus has to be exactly on what’s in front of us and that’s each day, each game, each practice. Be ready to keep improving. We got a young team. We have a team that can grow.”
This type of mindset can encourage us as followers of Jesus and our approach to the past, present, and future.
Rather than dwelling on previous seasons of failure, there is great value in focusing on today and the opportunities in front of us to serve God and grow in our faith.
Although it's important to think about the past because it shows us God's faithfulness, grace, and the history of our blessings, when we concentrate too much on our old mistakes or previous sins, shame and discouragement hold us back from experiencing joy for what God is doing in the present.
When it comes to properly thinking about the future, we have a profound reason to have hope and excitement because we know we’ll be spending eternity with God. However, if our thoughts about the future become too earthly-focused, we'll spend too much of our energy worrying about how we’re going to get through tomorrow and the weeks and months ahead.
That's why Matthew 6:34 (NLT) is a good reminder: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Ultimately, whether we're celebrating the past, enjoying the present moment, or anticipating the future, let’s keep our thoughts fixed on God and His truth.
Let’s not dwell on previous "losing seasons" or waste the present by worrying about what might happen tomorrow. Instead, let's be mindful of Paul's words in Philippians 4:8 (NLT): ”...Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for today and for the transforming work You're doing in my life. I praise You for your past faithfulness and I look toward my future with hope because I know I'm spending eternity with You. Please help me to think about the past, present, and future through a Biblical perspective. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
Where do your thoughts tend to go the most - to the past, present, or future?
Are you most likely to have negative thoughts about your past, present, or future?
Are you most likely to have positive thoughts about your past, present, or future?
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