Although it’s hard to beat Game 7 in any sports playoff series (especially when the best team in the regular season is playing), the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets proved to be an exception during the Western Conference semifinals last night.

With hopes of returning to the Stanley Cup Final (they lost to Pittsburgh last year), the Predators were knocked out of the playoffs 5-1 and walked away greatly disappointed this year’s run had come to an end.

The Predators struggled right from the beginning, giving up two goals to the Jets in the first period. Nashville’s goalie, Pekka Rinne, is a Vezina Trophy finalist for the NHL’s best goaltender, but after allowing two early goals, he was pulled out of the game and replaced by backup Juuse Saros.

Rinne provided just enough of an opening for the pucks to get by him, and his inability to protect the net forced Predators coach, Peter Laviolette, to go a different direction at goalie. The Predators still lost the game and continued to give up goals, but the concept of “pulling the goalie” got me thinking about our own lives.

Each day we face temptations, sinful thoughts, and spiritual attacks. That means we must be aware of what’s trying to enter our “net” or our mind. We have to protect ourselves from letting the wrong things in, and careful not to allow cultural messaging, lies from the enemy, and other doubts slide into “our goal.”

There are times, however, when we give just enough of an opening for “the puck” to get by us. In order to make a change, go in a different direction, and “pull the goalie,” we must renew our mind.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

The definition of renew is “the replacing or repair of something that is worn out, run-down, or broken.” Just like a goalie may need to be replaced and taken out, we need to take out our old mindsets, sinful thoughts, and negative influences and replace them with the truth.

Our mind influences much of what we do, so we must ask God to renew it and align it properly with Him. As we look to “pull the goalie,” in order to be better protected in the “net,” let’s remember the equipment or armor needed to be ready.

Ephesians 6:14-17 (AMP) explains, “So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].

“Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

Today, let’s be encouraged to know God doesn’t leave us alone in the goal but provides His Spirit to strengthen us and renew our minds. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for providing me armor to remain protected against temptations and lies. I confess I’ve allowed small openings to bring the wrong things into my mind. I pray You would renew my mind and replace sinful thoughts with truth. Thank you for Your grace, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.