The sporting world revolves around seasons. Every year, teams cycle through offseason, preseason, and regular season with hopes of playoffs and a championship.

Regardless of the past, every team and every player starts a new season with a clean slate. The past is not forgotten, but there is fresh opportunity for redemption or repeat on everybody’s mind.

Amid all the ambition and optimism, coaches are responsible for devising a game plan. They have to envision an ideal season that puts their team in a position to win it all. Players, on the other hand, are responsible for executing the plan to the best of their ability.

Now imagine what would happen if all of the players showed up with their own strategies, independent of their coach, devoted to doing their own thing!

Let’s be honest, it’s tempting to start each and every day consumed with our own agenda, oblivious to the game plan of God. So Jesus coaches us to consciously ask God on a consistent basis to conform us and our world to His will, knowing that all of us would be better off if we did things His way instead of our way.

Regardless of the past, today is a new day with a clean slate. Athlete, set aside your plans for the moment and ask God to show you His. He has a phenomenal part for you to play, but you’ll never find it if you’re bent on doing your own thing.