With a husband and then a son who eat, sleep, and breathe sports, this book nerd girl quickly expanded her vocabulary to include all sorts of sports terminology. Like rebounds, buzzer beaters, first downs, birdies, dribbling (down the court and the field), and the still-baffling-to-me offside rule. But my favorite term by far is one that occurs more in backyard and pickup games than on any official playing field: the do-over.
Messed up? Do-over.
Not quite sure what happened? Do-over.
Think a different way will work better? Do-over.
Let’s just say that do-overs are a regular occurrence when Mom is trying to participate. (Did I mention the book nerd part?) Thankfully, my sports guys are gracious and generous with their do-overs. Not because of how great my do-overs are, but because they love me and are patient with me and my attempts to be a part of their sports world.
While I’m grateful for all the sports do-overs, I’m even more thankful for the ones that happen outside of the sports world. I’m talking about the do-overs for those less-than-perfect and more messy moments of life. The second chances so graciously and generously offered by God. Not because of how great my do-overs are (because, again, they often still miss the mark), but because God loves me endlessly and is patient with me and my attempts to be a part of His kingdom. And guess what? He offers do-overs to you too.
Messed up? Do-over.
Not quite sure what happened? Do-over.
Think a different way (that is, His way) will work better? Do-over.
God doesn’t require our perfection to be part of His kingdom; He just asks that we keep seeking Him and trying to follow Him. Whether you call it a do-over, a second chance, or simply an opportunity to make a wrong right, God calls it grace. And it’s His free gift to all who choose to trust Jesus as their Savior.
Read those last few words again. It’s His free gift to us. Ephesians 2:8 says it this way:
By grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (NIV)
Those do-overs are a free gift to us, but they came at a costly price. A price Jesus paid on the cross (John 3:16). If we accept that free gift of His grace, we can freely confess all our mistakes, mess-ups, and outright rebellious sins to Him. He’ll forgive us—that’s a promise (1 John 1:9). And then He’ll help us begin again.
Because He is the God of grace, of second chances, of do-overs. And I’m so grateful that He is.
About the Author:
Tama Fortner is an ECPA award-winning and bestselling writer with more than forty titles to her credit. As a ghostwriter, she has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for children, teens, and adults. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family, an incredibly lazy dog who doubles as a footwarmer, and a new puppy who is definitely not lazy.
Connect with Tama
Instagram — @tamafortnerbooks
Facebook — @Tama Fortner Books
Did you love today’s devotion?
Sign up to receive your weekly love offering.
