Week 48 - #Prepare - LOSE?

What Do You Have to Lose?

Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Psalms 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”

Matthew 16:25: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”

Little did I know last December when I prayed over the potential aspects of “preparation” I would write about for 2021…that this week’s (week 48) focus would land on the topic of preparing to “lose.”

This week’s writing comes on the heels of my beloved buckeyes defeat to the team up north (University of Michigan). I’m thinking this topic for me personally may have been better served up last week!

But, God definitely has a sense of humor.

One of my favorite quotes that works in both good times and bad, in winning and losing is “this too shall pass.”

Life…real life, is a series of ebb and flow. We all know this but are we ever really prepared for this?

As we seek consistency in our lives there will be highs, and lows. The lows are the struggles not always pleasant, but necessary for our growth. The Proverbial “growing pains” we face brings about new meanings around each encounter.

So how do we prepare for loss as we endeavor to strive in the midst of inevitable hurt, pain and sorrow to continue to see the big picture…to keep perspective?

Perhaps we start by losing self, kindling a desire to see others and their needs. As Paul wrote to the Phillipians,

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

The reality is, we all have things in our life we need to lose. Things that hinder us, keeping us away from what matters most. Distractions from accomplishing kingdom goals.

In the gospel of Matthew 16:25, we are told,

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

DADs, losing will hurt. Especially if what you lost means something to you. And there are times in our lives when losing hurts even more. Quoting a friend of mine recently, in conversation about the buckeyes recent loss, he said “bad days in November are tough to rebound from.”

But DADs here is the good news found in Psalms 46:1:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

When we suffer. God suffers.

When we lose, God is right there beside you.

Are we ever totally prepared for all the opportunities to endure loss in our lives coming our way?

No.

But like the prodigal son, preparation for loss includes knowing we always have a home with God, who literally runs to us, to greet us, no matter what, with open arms.

To God be the glory!

DADs “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

**Today we prepare to“Lose." Next week we will consider how critical it is to prepare for considering how to “Regroup" in our lives.