The Same Old Mistakes

The Same Old Mistakes

Do you remember when your coach would throw his biggest tantrums? He would stomp his foot, raise his voice, and pinch all of his blood supply in such a way that his face would turn red with frustration. My coach would do that when we would make the same old mistakes.

Name the sport, and you can name the mistakes that send the coach into orbit. In football, it is mistakes in blocking assignments or snap counts. In basketball, it is traveling and neglecting the hustling and passing.

What I have found in my life is that when I forsake some simple fundamentals like getting enough sleep, spending time in prayer and studying Scripture, and having time for my family, I make the same old mistakes that cost me. I end up being short with my wife, frustrated with my kids, and rude to my colleagues. The smallest things become irritants because I am not executing on the simple fundamentals that are essential to my life.

I introduced the idea of Sabbath a few weeks ago. Let me ask you to reflect on this Scripture and the principle behind it again: “God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation” (Genesis 2:3).

Have you started taking a Sabbath? If God rested after his work, we must as well. Take one day a week to lay down your work and dedicate it to worshiping God. Relax with your family, and be renewed.

God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

Genesis 2:3