Let's all just simply enjoy this big hit...
Ouch!!
Now, I don't know about you, but I am a huge fan of watching huge sacks and hard tackles in football. The same goes for soccer, hockey, rugby, boxing, MMA. Heck, I like to see any big hit in any sport, even figure skating...
But as much as I love to watch these big hits and fails by complete strangers, I'd hate to see this happen to someone close to me, someone I love, or even myself.
It's funny when we see people get sacked and tackled physically, but we hardly ever know how to prevent getting sacked spiritually and emotionally. So, I want you to know this...
Our bodies are like a football team.
As we go through life, we are constantly facing opponents. And each opponent has different defensive strategies to getting to our Quarterback.Our Quarterback is our mind.
He's the captain of the team, the one who makes the plays, the guy who leads teams to victory.
He's also the main target of his opponents. When he has that ball in his hands, the primary directive of the defensive line is to take him out of the game.
Our opponent is the world.
The team is comprised of lust, greed, envy, hate, jealousy, regret, fear, anxiety, depression, weakness, strife, conflict, and death!
Each of these attackers in this world are in a never ending pursuit to reach you mind and take a hold of it while you're not looking. They try to slip through your defenses and take you out, play after play. Every one of these players are coached by Satan, himself.
How do we protect our Quarterback?
We understand that the opponents of this world are working simultaneously to take our minds out and to take control over them. But what can we do to prevent it?
1. Set Up a Strong Offensive Line
In our lives, we need to set up an offensive line. As you saw in the first video, they had a very weak offensive line. The defensive end completely totaled the QB unmatched. Without a proper and strong offensive line, our minds will be vulnerable to similar attacks.
We need to set for ourselves a strong offensive line. An impenetrable force for our mind. I line that is rooted in faith, hope, joy, peace, and love. A line that can only be created by God's hand.
In this line we need several things:
Close, godly friends. We need people who are willing to take our burdens to God and to uplift our hearts in times of trial and pain.
Godly mentors. We need wise adults who can guide us through the steps of life. People who have been through the things we've been through and can show us the way out.
Jesus Christ. We all know that without Jesus on our side, we will fall and we will fail. We need to commit to serving him and he will protect us through all things.
2. Stay in the Pocket
If there is anywhere that a quarterback is the most vulnerable, it is outside of the pocket. The pocket is the area behind the offensive line. This is where the quarterback is most protected. The second a quarterback leaves this space, his protection is greatly decreased.
This pocket is the boundaries that we set in our lives. These are personal and biblical boundaries that we should never go outside of. The second we step over the line of our boundaries we get hit by regret, pain, depression, and anger all at once. It's a brutal place to be and we must avoid it at all costs. Stay in the pocket and keep yourself and your life and direction within the guidelines and principles that keep you safe and out of harms way.
3. Train, Practice, Win!
You can't become a five star quarterback if you never practice or train yourself. Professional football players spend hours every day physically training themselves and practicing plays to keep improving their game daily. Without training, you will be unable to be a successful quarterback.
We must continually train ourselves in spiritual disciplines. Without training ourselves spiritually through daily devotion and active living in God's word, we allow our opponents a weak spot to exploit. And trust me, as soon as we allow ourselves to become vulnerable, an onslaught will come.
4. Read the Playbook
Quarterbacks spend hours and hours studying the playbook. They know it up and down, back to front, inside and out. Without this knowledge, they will not know who is where, which way their defensive line is protecting, and what is happening in the play. Reading the playbook gives the quarterback an extra edge on the field.
We need to read God's word daily. I know it sounds cliche and we hear it all the time, but it's so so SO important. This book is full of wisdom and principles that are there to protect us from lust, greed, envy, hatred, regret, and all the other opponents. This book was crafted by the very God who created you and me and understands what you need to know, when you need to know it. It's all right there and it will help you gain the winning edge on the enemy.
When you have a strong O-Line, you can go for the goal with all of your might, strong blockers and strong will, you can do exactly what Joe Webb did here...
Stand Strong!
Go for the Ultimate Goal!
Building a star QB is not an overnight journey. It's a process. But a process that is well worth the effort.
And we have the greatest coach on our side. Jesus Christ. He will never guide us away from the goal.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4:8
" 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." - Romans 12:2
