“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29 NIV)
I was probably in the fifth grade when Dad brought a basketball hoop and attached it to the roof on the backside of our house. Most of the time I played alone. However, there was a young man who lived around the corner who carried papers for the newspaper station that my father managed, and he would come around and shoot around and even play “competitive” games once and a while. His name was Murl. At least that is what I called him. When I say Murl was a young man, I mean he was almost old enough to go to the armed service.
It was Murl versus Mark. If we just played one game on any given day, Murl would always win, as you would expect. But one day, after he beat me in our one-on-one competition, I said, “Let’s play two out of three.” Murl won the first two games. I quickly extended the series by saying, “Let’s make it the best of five. Whoever wins three games first wins.” Yes, Murl won the very next game, but it seemed like he was tiring. As he was about ready to exit our backyard and walk home I spoke up loudly, “Come on! Let’s make it the best of seven; four out of seven and you win.” Murl said, “I’m tired, maybe we will play tomorrow.” I pleaded with him like the kid I was to keep playing. Murl shook his head as to communicate “What’s the point?” Nevertheless, he put his jacket down and let me have the ball first. The rule was if you hit, you get to keep the ball. To make a long story short, I won four games in a row. I won the extended series. You are probably saying, “Murl was just trying to make you feel good about yourself, being merciful.” Probably. Maybe. Whatever! From my perspective, I won, hands down. That’s my story and I am sticking to it!
Looking back at those childhood days, I can identify some things that helped me win with words I never even knew back in 1954. (Put your calculator down and read on! Smile!) I won because of perseverance, practice that paid off, persistence to beat my bigger opponent, and to be plainly truthful, my power did not run out as fast as Murl’s power. He was tired!
What do I want you to take away from this story on a Sunday morning, a day you are about to go to church? I can tell you in a few sentences. When the odds are against you, never give up. When you think you are in a no-win situation, keep trying to rise above whatever or whoever has beat you time and time again! Persevere my friend! Practice what you tell everybody else to do and pray your way through, on to victory! Wear your opponent down, whether it be an awful situation or our awful adversary, the devil. Here is what else you can do, something I did not do when playing Murl, not too many years ago. (You can smile again!) But seriously, here is what I want you to do, if you are feeling weak, ask the Lord to renew your strength! Petition the Lord to increase your power! Never give up! If it takes a figurative “four out of seven,” keep going for the win! Hang on in there! Like I said, “Never give up!” You can win! You can beat a foe that seems formidable! Yes, you can! For the Lord is on your side! Keep reminding yourself of that fact, by making the words below, in the closing verse, your battle cry!
Friend, the pep talk is over! Imagine us putting our hands together and breaking the huddle. Now go on and get to church and lift your real hands in the sanctuary! Be blessed!
“The Lord is on my side.” (Psalm 118:6a NKJV)
Mark L. King