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Are You Playing Offense or Defense?

Are You Playing Offense or Defense?

Last updated on: November 16, 2023 at 9:30 am by Faith E. Richardson

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Are You Playing Offense or Defense? 2023-11-15T06:39:12-07:00 Faith E. Richardson

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Green Grass with white line dividing sides.

Are you playing Offense or Defense? Pixabay.com

I’ve made several touchdowns lately. Life feels pretty good. In fact, things are going so well that Joy and I are planning a celebration dinner. After all, we’ve worked hard and deserve it, right? Standing in the end zone, I hold the football in the air and strut a victory dance.

Unfair Penalty

Out of nowhere, a member of the opposing team rushes me, tackles me to the ground, and I fumble the ball. Where did that come from? Where’s the ref? Was there a flag thrown? Cause that was a safety 2-point penalty.

Two Options

Here I am assessing my wounds; not sure how to proceed. Offense and Defense each present a game plan. Offense reminds me this was unfair for that team to not receive a penalty point, and I should challenge the ref. Pride agrees. After all, she is the one who has a huge raspberry on her elbow and a bruise on her left butt cheek.

Defense, however, has a different approach. He introduces me to Forgiveness and Grace. They remind me that my battle is not with flesh but with the unseen spirit world. After shaking hands with them I realize I have a choice to make.

I’d much rather not be put in this predicament, but here I sit. I take a deep breath and start strategizing my next move.

I call a timeout.

Faith Replaced Doubt as Coach

I kick Doubt out of the coach’s seat and invite Faith to replace him.

I know, with my whole heart, that it is Satan’s finest hour to get me to choose to play Offense. To hand me the self-righteous ball and pave the way for Pride to shine. Her eyes glisten at the thought as she rubs her right elbow. Satan’s desire is to get me to believe I am all alone. That would be his Touchdown!

I am Not Alone

I am reminded by Faith and Defense that I am not alone. God will never leave me. I look up from our timeout huddle and realize I’m surrounded by a whole team. I wave them over to join the huddle and together we form a new game plan.

I hand Jesus the ball. I announce Him as the new Quarterback and bench myself. I watch from the sidelines. Humility hands me a Power Aide and together, we cheer them to victory.

Trust hikes the ball to Jesus. He spirals it to Integrity who then sprints past Shame with the ball tucked in under his left arm. Guilt attempts a foot tackle but misses. Integrity jumps over Guilt with ease and runs into the end zone for yet another touchdown.

This time, Jesus does the victory dance. The opposing team? They don’t dare rush Him!

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About Faith E. Richardson

Faith E. Richardson was born in Traverse City, Michigan. She lived there nine short years before moving with her mom to Fort Worth, Texas where she would remain for another eighteen years. After meeting Trent, the love of her life, they married and moved to Colorado where they raised their two children. Currently retired from decades of human resource work, Faith renewed her passion for writing. Her life experiences and dramatic flair for storytelling draw the reader in with thought-provoking material on the wonder and truth of spiritual encounters. It's her desire to get her readers as excited about the Holy Spirit as she is. Author: Faith has written Eva Says You’re My Dad-a true story of finding her biological father, A Reflection of Me-A Collection of original poems and has more than 1000 unpublished poems waiting their turn. She is a two-time Editor’s Choice Award winning poet and is published in Poetry’s Elite, The Best Poets of 2000 and The Best Poems & Poets of 2001 through Poetry.com. She has written biblical monologues, co- authored and directed a Children’s musical, “Jesus is Your Power Aid”, written inspirational short stories, and is the author of the blog, FaithFraze which includes metaphorical short stories. She has been published in newspapers, newsletters, and magazines. Faith continues to grow her list of publications by entering into weekly and monthly contests and by continuing to write as much as God will allow. Inspirational Speaker: Faith loves to share her experiences with others. It is her desire to come alongside those who need words of encouragement, want to learn American Sign Language (ASL), or those who want guidance in writing poetry. She has been a guest speaker in Canyon City, Colorado, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and Fort Worth, Texas. She has spoken for events in churches, and classrooms. The materials she speaks on include faith based themes, writing, and ASL. Faith’s ability to write and memorize dramatic monologues and her love of ASL often give her presentations a unique twist. You can read more about the author here.

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