“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
G-O-A-L!
Soccer can be a frustrating sport to watch. I’ve seen many games near the 90-minute mark with the score tied at 0-0. Neither team is any closer to victory than they were at the first whistle, yet they both keep trying. The battle between the offense and defense is an incredible example of persistence! No matter how exhausted the players are from running up and down the field, they continue to battle toward the goal with the same explosive speed and precise footwork as the beginning of the game. It takes great teamwork to push the ball down the field, and the persistence required to achieve just one goal makes it a goal worth celebrating—often bringing an entire stadium to its feet as the team celebrates the player who scored and carries him or her around the field! In life, we often try to push the ball down the field by ourselves, which makes it almost impossible to succeed. It’s critical that we let others help us along the way—running alongside to provide encouragement, help us make the right choices, and best of all, to celebrate with us when we win.