Next Play Mentality

Asked a question why their team played so well, often, a player will state, “We broke the game down to each play and competed fiercely to win each one of them.”  “Our team had a ‘next play mentality’ forgetting the last play not allowing it to impact our full focus and effort on the following play.”  What would happen if we as believers broke our day down to the next play?   Whether we are successful or not during our last play, each of us develops a “next play mentality.” We move on living out the moments of our lives for the glory of God with the belief that He walks with us each step of the day.

With most of us, our days become a blur living life out without being focused on its moments.  At the end of the day, when asked how it went, often, our answer is, “same ol’ same ol’.”  The implication is that life is boring and monotonous.  If you are like me, “same ol’ same ol” seems to be a slap in God’s face. 

Think about it.  If you meet with God each morning, decide to meditate during the day on verses that stood out to you in your quiet time, and determine to live out the moments in your life with a “next play mentality”, how would that change your day and your witness? Whether you come in contact with multiple people during a day or a single precious child, a “next play mentality” means that we live with purpose during each of the moments of life. 

The “next play mentality” reminds me of several verses:

• Matthew 6:34 implies a next play mentality, “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Live each moment of T-O-D-A-Y not focused on tomorrow.  If so, each day becomes special and different in its own way.
• Philippians 3:13-14 teaches us a next play mentality forgetting failure or the giddiness of our successes focusing on our next play, “one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
• Matthew 6:27 instructs us not to get caught up with the concerns of future moments and stay focused on now, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  Keep your eyes off the future and be attentive to the current moments.

One last thought.  Journaling helps ground yourself reminding you of the moments lived out with a focus on your next step.  We let so much of life slide by not lived out with purpose…“same ol’ same ol’”.  You can change that with a next play mentality.