“This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
– Psalms118:24 (Holman Christian Standard)

The game of football has changed over the years. The smash-mouth, grind it out style has been replaced by gimmicky, hurry-up offenses designed to run as many plays as possible against the opponent. It’s not unusual for today’s high-powered offenses to run 90 to 100 plays in a regulation game. The fast pace keeps fans on their feet and the scoreboard operator very busy. As exciting as running 100 plays in a game may be for coaches, players and fans, the outcome usually comes down to one simple thing, winning the next snap! Plays have to be run one at a time and if athletes and coaches spend too much time thinking about the next one, the odds are pretty good they’re going to mess up the present one. Each play builds on itself and the more positive plays that can be strung together, the greater the chance of success.

This can happen to us in life too. Some coaches have their entire lives mapped out. They’re going to work their way up the coaching ladder and take the head job at their dream school. They’re going to get married and have three perfect children. After thirty years in the system, they plan to retire and live on the lake spending all their time playing golf and fishing. There is certainly nothing wrong with making plans for the future, but sometimes we forget that the choices we make each day, determine the future we will have. Sometimes we are so focused on tomorrow, we fail to utilize and value each day God gives us. He has given us today, but there are no promises about our tomorrows. We must learn to rejoice and be glad in all that today brings. Tomorrow will come soon enough.

Heavenly Father, You made me and You have a plan for my life. Teach me to give You my very best each and every day. Help me to rejoice in today and not obsess over what tomorrow may hold. Amen.