Look up!

October 12, 2007

By Greg Ebie

I’ve helped coach the girls’ basketball teams at Warren (Ohio) Christian School. As we get ready to take the floor before each game we get in our huddle. Right before we break our circle we shout, “Look up! Keep it up! Look up! Keep it up! Go WCS!”

“Look up” reminds us to have confidence in God, in our team, and in ourselves. “Keep it up” reminds us to not stop. If we continue to believe and do the right things we will be rewarded even when the other team outplays us. What happens on the basketball court is not just a matter of what happens on the floor, but what happens within the hearts and minds of the players — that is where the game is won or lost.

The same is true for life. Every day is not smooth sailing; we will all encounter obstacles and hardships. When difficulties come we must remember it is not always what happens to us that matters, but how we respond in our thoughts, words and deeds to the challenge. We need to start each day shouting, “Look up! Keep it up!”

“Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks” (Matthew 7:7,8, NLT)

Jesus does not just tell us to ask of God, but to keep on asking. We are not to just look, but to keep on looking — not just to knock, but to keep on knocking. We must live our lives with determination and perseverance. Our faith in God must not waiver. God will not fail us.

When our team is down by 20 points in the fourth quarter it can be hard to keep on believing, but we must win the battle within our minds and play through to the finish because we believe.

I’ve also noticed sometimes the greater test comes when we are the team leading by 20 with only a few minutes left in the game. At such times it is easy to be confident in ourselves and in our team and neglect our dependence upon God.

Whatever you face today, gray skies or blue, adversity or peace, maintain your faith in God and don’t quit. Look up! Keep it up!

D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.