Daily Devotion - Tuesday, January 5

Move Forward with Confidence

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
--Psalm 27: 1

NOTE: As the Indianapolis Colts and other professional football teams prepare for the playoffs, it seems that this devotional piece may be in order.

One of the great running backs in professional football was Walter Payton. His autobiography, Never Die Easy, is a powerful story. Watching Walter play was always a treat and after reading this book, every reader probably wishes they had had a personal moment with him. I was privileged to be in Los Angeles and attend his final NFL game-- I treasure that experience! The book is about courage in the midst of chaos, it is a book about strength in times of personal weakness, it is a book about family and friends embracing and supporting one another.

It seems Walter understood today’s key verse. He didn’t like the way his life unfolded following his successful career in football. He faced difficulties and was sometimes depressed, but he kept moving forward, especially with the people that meant the most to him—his family and friends. He didn’t seem to be afraid. Rather he seemed anchored and secure. He faced life head on.

As we begin this New Year, let us move forward with confidence that light and strength will be ours each day. The challenges will be many, to be certain; with faith and focus, we, too, can be people who never die easy.

A prayer for the year 2010: God of another year, in the face of each challenge, help me to recognize you as the stronghold of my life. Amen.

--Ben Keckler
01.05.10