Those are Crocs not cleats!

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending one of my niece’s soccer games =). When I showed up I noticed she was still sitting down even though her team was on the field. She lifted her foot and showed me her shoe. It was totally a croc, definitely not a cleat. Can't hit the field like that. 

It got me thinking about how often we show up on game day unprepared to step on the field. When I say game day I’m talking about life: work, school, church ministry, home, volunteering, and everything else we do on a daily.

I am convinced in most things we do we are showing up to our games with our crocs on and forgetting our cleats in the car.

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What do the crocs represent?
Crocs represent Comfort 

We become so comfortable in the routine of our roles and positions that we don’t prepare mentally, physically, or spiritually for the tasks at hand. 

Many of us are showing up on game day unprepared simply because we shut God out of our lives once we leave Sunday or midweek service. For 

some reason we feel that he doesn’t fit in our Monday through Saturday. That he only wants to work with us when we are in front of an altar. That he is a God who works set hours and is unavailable to us like he takes extended lunches or something. 

We can no longer separate our spiritual life from our everyday life. Just because you are not allowed to talk about God in your schools or at your workplace does not mean you cannot take him with you everywhere you go. It doesn’t mean your faith must chill out until you get back to church or in front of your favorite preacher. 

Living a ‘spiritually prepared’ lifestyle is just that—a lifestyle that encompasses mind, body, and spirit! It includes spending time with God in order to be ready for whomever and whatever we will face on game day. Even a simple prayer like, “Lord, prepare me for my day, guide my footsteps, and help me to deal with anything unexpected that may come up” is putting you in conversation with God that is giving him permission to lead you and help you with whatever it is you may face. 

What do our cleats represent?
Our cleats represent a readiness to grip the surface

Cleats represent that time we take to prepare for our classes by reading the material and studying. Consecrating ourselves before we go before the people and minister on, let’s just say, a Sunday morning. Even staying home and not going out the night before work so you are alert and ready to face the day with excellence. 

Cleats represent the ability and readiness to make quick changes! In every game you have to be able to change directions quickly to keep up with your opponents or even to get away from them in order to make it to your goal. 

Going out onto the field without cleats is a safety hazard. The baby could have been hurt because she wouldn’t have been able to grip the terrain she had to run on. It’s the same thing with us, disconnecting God from our everyday lives is a safety hazard. Ignoring and putting aside our devotion and prayer time and even just silent time with ourselves places us on terrain without proper grip! We are bound to slip up and possibly injure ourselves and those around us. 

Being spiritually prepared for the battles, small or major, we will face everyday is necessary. This week I encourage you to put your cleats on. Get ready for your week and all parts of it. Take the time to prepare for work, school, church, or volunteering like it’s your first day there. Say a prayer and take the time to listen and watch for the response. Then act accordingly!

I’m going to stay on the soccer game this week. If you are planning to check in on the daily devotions this week, here’s a preview of what to expect…

Monday: Moving too fast
Tuesday: Just enough not to forfeit
Wednesday: Everyone gets a turn
Thursday: Take advantage of the bench
Friday: Back in the game
Saturday: The season ain’t over