Be Great Today
Posted by Richard Harris | | Posted On Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 5:38 PM
Jason Garrett is the first year coach of the Dallas Cowboys and thus is in the prayers of all here in Dallas; trust me he needs all the prayer he can get. Garrett is not only a coach but also played fourteen years for several different teams in the NFL as a backup quarterback.
Here in Dallas the sports world seems to OCD on the Cowboys. Anything a Cowboy coach or player says is always out there for all to here. They even air the head coach’s news conference on the radio. Normally when this comes on I go elsewhere for entertainment. Yesterday I stuck around; glad I did.
Garrett was asked how it felt to be a back up and always being close to being cut, that is fired in the sports world. He turned to one of his catch phrase quotes that caught my attention,
“….it’s all about being great today.” and then added, “It probably comes from my experience as a player. ‘Don’t worry about yesterday. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Be great today. Try your best today to put your best foot forward and be your best.”
This is a fantastic attitude not only for a football player but for each of us. Here it is; too many of us are bogged down with the past allowing it to suck the energy and motivation to be our best right out of us. So we settle for second best because we think that is what we deserve. Nothing could be further from what God wants for us. Others spend a lot of time fretting over future events thus taking our eye off ‘the day.’
Let’s look at his quote from a biblical perspective; I think I see some intersection of the two:
1) Don’t worry about yesterday. Yesterday is done, what happened, happened, good or bad. There are no do over’s in life. We have to learn to move forward. Philippians 3:13-14
2) Don’t sweat tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Sure it is good to plan and even dream but do not let it consume your day. Matthew 6:34
3) Today is where it is at. Today is what you can control. When you get up in the morning that is game time. Put your best foot forward. It has been said a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Today is that step, you own today. Philippians 3:12
4) Be great today! I love the fact he does not say be average today or get by today; no he says “be great today.” Don’t set out to just get to the end of your eight hour work day but set out to be great. Look for something extra special to do for God, be your God given best.
So what are you waiting for? Stop fretting over yesterday, tomorrow will come soon enough; be great today!
Scripture: Matthew 6:34, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
-The Message by Eugene Peterson
Philippians 3: 14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Go for the prize!
Prayer: Dear Lord, guide us to keep our focus on you, not to waste our days regretting the past or worrying about the future; but focused on being great for you today! We ask these things in the name of Christ, Amen.
Simple/truths 175 written by Richard Harris for more simple/truths go to simple-truths.net. You can now follow me on twitter at RAH_OHHH. If you live in the Dallas area you can purchase Simple Truths Volume I for a suggested donation of 20 dollars to Our Hands, His Heart. For further purchase information reply back to richardgrl@aol.com. If you do not live in the Dallas area you can purchase Simple Truths Volume I at simple-truths.net.
