Obviously, when it comes to winning or losing, we all want a piece of the action. That was why over 72,ooo attended the 2009 Super Bowl game last evening in Tampa, FL and some other 86 million, including me, watched via TV as the Arizona Cardinals (23) lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers(27).
I'm sure not all Cardinals hold this view, but according to Kurt Warner, #13 Cardinal quarterback there is more to playing the game than winning. After the game he spoke in an interview about how honored he was just to play in the game. Was he disappointed? Yes, but listen to another interview as he talks about winning vs. losing.
How do we calculate a win or loss? Do we base our win or loss through the eyes of God? We should. Did you hear what Warner said, "We cannot know God's way." Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts." We cannot understand God's way, and neither should we assume that God is orchestrating things as we think they should be, or how we interpret things.
We should not diminish our God to a god that will or will not do for us or give us all we ask for. Our God is our creator, therefore he knows what is best for us, therefore we can pray as St. Francis of Assisi prayed, "Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love..."
I must confess that I always want to win. I tend to see things through my eyes. I am ashamed for the times that I was a pretty sore loser. I stooped to making excuses for my own shortcoming and to blaming others for my loss rather than accepting the blame. I didn't consider that God might have other plans for me, or just that it was the other person's time to win. Too many times I have sought to be consoled, to be understood, to be loved, to receive, to be pardoned, rather than allowing God to work his will in my life.
Note: Am I saying that God caused the Steelers to win and the Cardinals to lose? Not hardly, I think He probably watched like the most of us and just left the game to the boys.
Lord, help me to not only know you and your truths, but to want your will in my life above anything else, and to remember "... For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
I want to die to myself that I might show love, grant pardon, have faith, hope, and joy, and live in the light of Jesus.
How do you see winning and losing? Are you a sore loser or a good sport? Are you working on it?
I have always been one who thinks more of how you play the game ( I think it is because as far as games go I was never much of a winner :)). I think it is true in life as well.
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See you on Sunday!