(Reposted)

It is March - the month all about basketball (at least in my household). We even have a traveling March Madness trophy amongst our family members. I have yet to win it… maybe this year is my year.

Honestly, basketball isn’t something I personally have a passion for. I never played it growing up (I’m not athletic AT ALL) although I was a basketball cheerleader. That has to count for something, right?

My husband is currently the assistant boys basketball coach in our town. On Tuesday we will play a big game to determine if we go to state. (We’ve gone the last two years) As you can imagine, this game is big for our little town and around 200 of us Panther fans will travel 2 hours to cheer our boys on.

As I was watching the last game we had, I recognized something. I noticed that when the boys would mess up, they immediately forgot about it and moved on. Now, I’m not a life philosopher or anything, but watching them leave their mistakes in the past, and press on to victory, struck a chord as to how we should live life.

Philippians 3: 13-14 says, “but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (NKJV).

I have watched basketball teams that couldn’t get over their mistakes. They blamed each other and had a negative outlook. The result, as you can imagine, was nothing to celebrate about. However, when you have a team that puts mistakes behind them, supports each other and presses on to the goal together, success is bound to happen.

Your game of life is the same way. You have a choice everyday to let your mistakes hold you back and keep you down OR you can CHOOSE to forget those things in the past and PRESS ON toward your goal.

So, here is my little coach’s speech for you:

• You WILL make mistakes. Forget about them quickly and move on.
• If you are making strides for the goal, you will undoubtedly get fouled at some point. The devil wants to do whatever he can to stop you from getting a lead (and he doesn’t play nice).
• Press on. You might have to put a “full-court press” on your circumstances. Many games are won by a strong defense and your life isn’t any different.
• Surround yourself with a great team. You need people in your life to help you toward your goals not hold you back.
• Listen to your coach. Jesus knows the best plays for every situation you have. Listen to Him and you will be victorious every time!