Empty possessions drive football and basketball teams crazy, especially in the red zone and on fast breaks. Same goes for missed penalty kicks in soccer, runners left on base in baseball, service errors in volleyball and tennis. The goal is to score, to come away with points. When you don't, it should feel like wasted opportunity.

Same goes with God. When He's loaded into the framework, invited into the situation, added to the attack, consulted in the building, welcomed into the journey, nothing proves vain. He finds a way to score, to make possessions amazingly count. When He's sidelined, marginalized or ignored, don't be surprised if things fall apart and you come up scoreless, ambushed or both in the end. God doesn't want to be ignored, frozen out. He's the universe's hidden MVP, you know.

Remember this.

So make time to include the Lord at the front end of whatever you undertake, and into the midst. Invite Him into each new launch, each new day's hill to climb and rock to move. Don't wait for the building to be complete or drive to stall. Our endeavors need a wise, guiding, powerful, protecting hand. He's the only real “house insurance” we can count on in the end.

Reflect: Are you undertaking something new that needs the Lord's touch, His counsel, His blue-printing? Call timeout and seek His counsel. Are you stuck in the mud on a thing or two that could use a tow from the LORD? What is it? Put your car in park and get a spiritual lift.

Prayer to consider today: Great Builder-LORD, build me. Put Your hands on me as I put my hands on all I seek to build. Design what I craft, great Architect of men. I don't want to waste any of my construction efforts or see my work needlessly stalled. The endgame can only be vain apart from You. Help me to remember You at the outset of and in the midst of anything I undertake. Rebuild a few things in me and through me too. Thank You for giving me the hope of an unwasted life.