My favorite part of the first three weeks of the NFL season has been watching Peyton and Eli Manning on ESPN2 during Monday Night Football. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the game with them as they offer humor, amazing insight, and tremendous brotherly banter.
I haven’t wanted to miss a moment of Monday Night Football, and no, not the actual play on the field, but rather the entertaining and captivating conversations between Peyton and Eli!
In week two during the Lions and Packers game, they were talking about quarterback, Jared Goff, playing for his new team in Detroit.
Eli asked his older brother, “What do you think the hardest part is about going to a new system? You’ve been in one system for a long time and all of a sudden you get a new one.”
Peyton, who went from the Colts to the Broncos, responded by saying, “It’s unlearning your old system.” He explained how plays are called a certain way with the old team, but then a different terminology has to be learned with the new team.
He further explained that because the names of those plays or audibles have been called for so many years, a QB sometimes calls out an old one and his new teammates don't know what he's saying.
This topic came up again when the Manning brothers welcomed LA Rams quarterback, Matthew Stafford (who was traded for Goff), onto their show during the Cowboys and Eagles game on Monday Night.
Stafford shared this about his experience going to a new team:
“It is a big adjustment. You know, people think it’s just learning a new system. I think the biggest thing and the toughest thing for me is forgetting the old one. There were so many words that used to mean something in an old system that means something different in a new one, and that’s the biggest part of it I think is difficult when you’re stepping into a new system and new terminologies.”
Along with a QB being challenged to unlearn the old plays and get the new ones at the forefront of his mind, the concept of unlearning is also critical in our own lives. There are ways we think, act, and speak when we're single, then change when we’re married, and then change again when we’re parents.
But even more significant is unlearning from a spiritual standpoint. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, we begin the process of transformation. We embark on a new life with God and “step into a new system and new terminologies” as we continue to learn His ways.
It can be challenging as we pursue Him and our new life because we were in an “old system” for a while with a different set of thoughts, words, routines, and behaviors. These have to be “unlearned” while we grow in our understanding of the “new system” and embrace the new team we’re on.
Our minds and hearts must change, and thankfully God allows us to learn and unlearn through the power of the Holy Spirit as we leave our former life and “playbook” behind.
Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT) offers us this great encouragement:
"Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
Romans 12:2 (NLT) also tells us, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect”
Today, let’s praise God that we’ve been given a new life, a new Kingdom, a new family, and a new “system.” Let’s ask Him to help us “unlearn” the ways we used to think, act, believe, and speak.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the way You continue to transform me. Please help me to unlearn anything that is holding me back from living according to Your will. Please give me new desires, new thoughts, and new patterns that honor and glorify You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What are some of the things you had to “unlearn” when you began following Jesus?
What are some more recent ways God has helped you think, act, or speak differently as you’ve matured spiritually?
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