Timeout! Timeout!

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  Col. 4:2

Timeout! Timeout!  The chances to converse with the players on the court in a dedicated, set apart discussion are taken at opportune moments in an athletic contest.  Last night, I was able to observe the coaches from North Carolina and Villanova use timeouts to instruct their players.

---

,​It could be argued that both coaches were successful from an offensive vantage point.   UNC player, Marcus Paige, hit an amazing shot after the team planned on getting the ball into his hands.  I'm not sure the coach drew up a pump fake three point shot, but getting the ball into his hands, the best three point shooter, was part of the plan.  Celebrate success!! 
Timeout!  Timeout!  Now it was Villanova’s time to huddle and make a plan to try and win the game.  After their time of talking together, the players executed a play that provided a wide open shot to win the game.  The conversation that had taken place provided a plan, hope, and unity.  It worked. Ryan Arcidiacono pushed the ball down court and delivered a pass to Chris Jenkins who drained a shot to win the game as time expired.  Timeout?  Nope.  Game Over. 
Paul encourages the church to take routine “timeouts” with God.  Paul encourages us to “Devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  If you are reading this today, there is still time on the clock, and it is a good idea to take a time out with God and talk things over. 
Being devoted to prayer requires us to pray.  Jesus knew that we should do this so he taught the disciples to pray.  “When you pray”, he said, emphasized that conversing with God, our great coach, leader, King, is possible and advisable.  Basketball coaches sometimes do not use all of the opportunities to call timeouts allowed by the rules of the game.  Instead, they opt to let the game play out and trust that the players will make the right decisions.  God is ready to converse and the decision to take a break and have a conversation is in our hands.  You cannot exhaust your timeout allotment with God.  Stay devoted to prayer by relying on God throughout the day, being watchful for opportunities to talk with him for any reason, including giving thanks.  Perhaps it is time to call a Timeout! 

---