It’s Kickoff Time.

When you were under the fig tree, I saw you —John 1:48

Football season seems to have begun this week. The Saints are hoping to Two Dat and start with a game against the Vikings tonight. College teams will play their second games this weekend. But for those who play the game, the season never ends. These guys work to stay in shape year round. Actual practice has been going on for college for a month and preseason games have separated the players from the watchers in the professional ranks. For those who have not worked and prepared there is no season opener.

We need to do the same. It is easy to say when God calls on me to do something great, I’ll be ready. Well, we will only be ready if we are preparing now. If we aren’t doing the little things now, we won’t be asked to suit up for the big game.

In fact, maybe we have already been called up and found wanting. Have we had a crisis in our life in which we floundered, doubted our faith, held back from making a necessary move?  Crises don’t make our character they just reveal it. If we have been able to withstand challenges, it’s because we’ve been working and the crisis found us in shape.

In spiritual warfare, the “practice” is a life of a private relationship of worshiping God., The strongest worshiper is not the one who sings the loudest or raises his hands the highest. The great worshiper practices the presence of God all week, not just on Sunday morning. He sees the hand of God in everything that comes to him in life. He has a continuing attitude of gratitude. He is constantly listening for direction for his next move and taking steps guided by the spirit.

It is those who live that kind of life or worship, whose daily life is a preparation for being used by God. They are the ones called onto the field when it’s time for kickoff.

Gotta go. The game is starting.

Nick