On Bended Knee

I am a woman with great passion for football! This passion started at an early age when, as an elementary kid, I donned shoulder pads with my helmet‎ and played football with my high school brothers. Yes, I was kicking field goals in my bare feet!

With every high school game that passion increased and came to glorious heights when I attended Ohio State during the golden years of the legendary coach, Woody Hays.  Fifty years later, I am still glued to Ohio State Football Games. Now, that’s a ton of passion and there is even room for my beloved Patriots with the big boys, the pros!!

As a former competitive skater, I follow sports as a whole. I have the deep conviction that in true sports you’re not out to beat the other guy but to beat yourself. You are constantly raising that bar higher and striving to win that title. In the end you can only blame yourself  in defeat or smile with great satisfaction with a win.  Character is built through either the joy of triumph or the agony of defeat.

But sports is not my first passion. My faith in my Lord and Savior‎ is my greatest passion. I cannot get enough of Him. I want to know Him more and more. This Man who died for me…who is He? Therein lies my passion for life.

Whoa, what on earth does your passion for football have to do with your greatest passion, your love for Jesus Christ? Can’t you see it?  It’s been on all the news networks and is the talk of the country. There is a common denominator, ON BENDED KNEE!!!
God’s Word teaches me, “Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”   Philippians 2.10

Today, in the football coliseums, the warriors of that great sport, football, are taking a knee! Have you ever seen so many strong athletic men go down publicly on bended knee? Wouldn’t it be so incredible if they and the entire stadium would go on bended knees to praise the Name of Jesus and to give thanks for their very breath of life? Then after the completion of that prayer to rise and stand in strength to acknowledge that we indeed are one nation under God?

I’m confused when I watch football these days. Laws have made it that you cannot pray before a game,  but now they are allowed to go on bended knee in public demonstration. Men, you can’t have it both ways. If you’re on your knees, PRAY for our country and for your soul!

‎There’s only two times a grown man will go on bended knee. First to humble themselves before their almighty God and secondly to be on the same level as a child. If only all of God’s people would publicly go on bended knee to proclaim that He is Lord, and to glorify His name! And for those who are going on bended knee in the stadiums to make a statement,  this word is for them. “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”  I Corinthians 13.11

In these turbulent times, we need to remember the words of President George Washington written over 200 years ago but still appropriate for where we are today…

Almighty GOD; we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States of America at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of The Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech thee, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen     George Washington’s Prayer for the United States of America