“I will thank the Lord with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wonderful works.”
– Psalm 9:1

It’s important to celebrate the victories! I don’t mean just the wins, I’m talking about all the small victories that come our way every season. To the typical fan, a middle school football team that finished the season with a 3-3 record, would not be considered a great success. We as coaches tend to look at success from a different perspective. How was the team playing at the end of the season as compared to the beginning of the season? Did the athletes improve their skill level? Did they have fun? Do the players see themselves as a valuable part of the program? Are they excited about next season? These things may not be “scoreboard” victories, but I certainly believe they are important and will lead to scoreboard victories in the future. I also believe these achievements are worthy of being celebrated with our team.

I also believe it’s important to celebrate the victories in our faith journey. God gives us so much, but all too often, we fail to show our full appreciation. We celebrate the big events with Him, but often forget the small ones. When we take the time to praise God for everything He has done, we begin to better understand who He is. The more we allow God to be the focus of our celebration, the more we comprehend His magnificence. We celebrate baptisms and weddings, but what about a competed Bible study or a full prayer journal? We celebrate Sunday School promotion, but what about feeding the homeless on a cold Saturday morning? Let’s not miss the opportunity to celebrate with our Heavenly Father because we think the accomplishment is insignificant. Tell everyone of the marvelous things He has done!

Lord, You are the giver of all victories. Big or small, I want to celebrate them all  with You today. Amen.