Recently the Lord has been speaking to me about strategy and preparation for the days ahead. One of the ways He reveals strategy is through dreams. A couple of years ago before we even knew we were moving back to Charlotte from the lake, the Lord gave me a dream about a U-turn heading south, back to Charlotte. He also gave me a dream of a map, laying out a specific location where we were looking to buy a house. It turned out to be the exact location where we ended up buying a house and where we now live.
The other night I had a dream about a football team when the Lord began to speak to me about strategy. In this dream the football team was very concerned with feeding their appetite for notoriety, temporal pleasures and things. Needless to say this careless life style made them totally ineffective on the field. Because they ignorantly mingled with their opponent in an attempt to elevate their status, they were also ineffective about guarding their plan of attack on the field.
When I awoke, the Lord began to clarify His strategy for His team. Instead of carelessly living in the moment for temporal pleasures and gain, our Coach has a clear strategy and expectation for His team. He hasn’t chosen a life of idleness, comfort and couch dwelling for His athletes. He expects intense preparation, seasons of training and willingness to travel and do what it takes to further the success of the team. Although He's giving instruction, He expects the team to co-labor in this effort. The Coach intentionally places His players in their positions, so with the authority He’s given them they can possess the playing field, take the championship and further His kingdom.
Here’s the game plan:
1. Listen for directions from The Coach (My sheep listen to My voice. John 10:27)
2. Get in shape! Pray knowing everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on you. (A workman...who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15) (Present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice...Romans 12:1)
3. Know your position and guard it (You are a chosen race, royal priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9)
4. Know who your opponent is (We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12)
5. Keep your head in the game (We have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16)
6. Play for eternal dividends, not momentary thrills (For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21)
7. Support and cover the backs of your teammates (Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. James 5:16)
8. Keep your eye on the goal, know your mission and destination (He who overcomes I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne. Revelations 3:21)
