October is the craziest and busiest month on the sports calendar with football season rolling, MLB playoffs taking place, the NHL starting up, and basketball season getting underway.

As sports fans, one of the ways we keep up with all of the latest news is getting push notifications on our phones and checking out our favorite sports websites to see what happened overnight.

These are the top sports headlines we woke up to this morning:

• Pats Cutting Stephon Gilmore (now trading him)

• Cowboys Releasing Jaylon Smith

• Bucks-Grizzlies Preseason Opener Halted

• Matt Ryan Denies Reports He Wants Out

• Red Sox Eliminate Yankees

• Meyer Apologizes to Entire Jags Team

When reading further details, we find out the following:

• Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, was expected to be released by the New England Patriots after not being able to agree on a new contract. (Better yet, after we wrote this, he ended up being traded to the Panthers this afternoon.)
• The Cowboys moved on from Pro Bowl linebacker, Jaylon Smith, to save money.
• The Bucks and Grizzlies stopped playing because of a false fire alarm.
• Matt Ryan wants to remain in Atlanta and called the reports “false” and “ridiculous.”
• The Boston Red Sox won the Wild Card game at home to knock out their rival, New York Yankees, 6-2.
• Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Urban Meyer, is trying to pick up the pieces from his mistakes over the weekend and reportedly “expressed responsibility and remorse” during a full team meeting.

What I find interesting about these headlines and stories is the common thread throughout, and how the verbs in the push notifications parallel important spiritual actions we, as followers of Jesus, can do to start our day.

We must “cut” any thoughts, distractions, or behaviors in our lives that are holding us back and “release” certain emotions or responses to prevent us from acting the wrong way. Better yet, we “trade” them for what’s right.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT) says it this way: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

We must remember to “halt” or pause or stop before we lose our temper, as well.

Proverbs 29:11 (AMP) explains, “A [shortsighted] fool always loses his temper and displays his anger, But a wise man [uses self-control and] holds it back.”

There are many lies we’re tempted to believe that promote selfishness and tell us the world’s offerings are good and satisfying. However, we know the Truth, so we must “deny” those lies and “deny” our selfish desires.

As Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23 (ESV), “…If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

We must also believe that when we’re in Christ, the punishment for sin which is death and the bondage we once had to sin has been “eliminated” as we rest in God’s grace.

Romans 8:1 (AMP) declares, “Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].”

We do still make mistakes, but when we do we must “apologize” to those we hurt and confess our sin to God.

Thankfully, “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]” (1 John 1:9; AMP).

Today, when we read about players being released or traded and others denying lies…teams being eliminated…games being halted…and coaches apologizing for mistakes, let’s allow the notifications and headlines to motivate and inspire us to take action spiritually.

Let’s memorize these verses and follow Jesus as we seek to emulate His character. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me release all bitterness and cut out the distractions in my life. Thank you for eliminating the punishment of sin that I deserve by sending Jesus to die in my place. I pray You’d give me self-control so I can halt my emotions before they escalate. I apologize for the ways I’ve fallen short, but I thank you for Your grace and love. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

1. Which of these verbs resonate with you the most today?

2. How does taking proactive action like releasing or halting or denying prevent mistakes from compounding?