Game 7 Mentality

One of the most thrilling sporting events occurs during the playoffs when a series goes to Game 7. The teams have proven to be evenly matched through the first six games, and it all comes down to the win-or-go-home deciding game.

Both teams head into Game 7 with the attitude that they must take care of business and do what it takes to win. There isn’t another game. It’s now or never, and they have to pull out all the stops.

This weekend, the world of sports provided us with four Game 7s. The NBA had two matchups, and the NHL also did.

In the NBA, the 7th-seeded Warriors upset the 2nd-seeded Rockets 103-89 in Game 7, and the Denver Nuggets took care of the LA Clippers convincingly 120-101 in their Game 7.

Both of those games turned out to be blowouts after a competitive series, and you could see the way the Nuggets and Warriors played with a sense of urgency as they embraced the moment and the opportunity to advance to the next round.

The most exciting game took place Sunday night on the ice as the Winnipeg Jets won 4-3 in double-overtime in a dramatic comeback to beat the St. Louis Blues.

The Jets were down 3-1 with two minutes left in regulation, but scored a late goal to cut the lead. Then the game was sent to the first overtime thanks to an epic game-tying goal with 3 seconds remaining in regulation from Jets forward Cole Perfetti.

On Saturday night, the Dallas Stars were down by two goals in the third period. But thanks to Mikko Rantanen scoring a hat trick and having an assist in the third period against his former team, the Stars pulled out the 4-2 Game 7 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

As fans, we hope that athletes always play with the same passion and intensity as they do during a Game 7, but the reality is that teams play with a different mentality than they did in Game 3. Early in the series, they know multiple games are ahead of them, and there is more room to hesitate, delay, or save some effort.

But when they get to a Game 7, there is no next game unless they win, so it’s “now or never,” nothing more to wait for, and they must give all they have. (Unfortunately, it seemed the Clippers and, to a lesser extent, the Rockets didn’t have the necessary “Game 7 Mentality” to get the win.)

Admittedly, even as fans, we feel more urgent to watch Game 7s than Game 3s. It’s easy to say during Game 3 that I will turn this one off, catch the next matchup, or wait for later in the series before I really start watching. However, during Game 7, we know this is it, so we don’t delay. We watch it!

In our own lives, I’m sure many of us can relate to having a “Game 3 Mentality” regarding decision-making, effort, and action. When doing things we know we should or need to do, we can easily say, “I’ll wait until the next game.” However, days, weeks, and even years go by, and we haven’t taken the necessary steps.

As followers of Jesus, we must adopt a more “Game 7 " mentality in life, meaning we live with a sense of urgency, give maximum effort, and avoid procrastination.

Of course, there is value in waiting and seasons where patience is needed, but too many of us are hanging onto the Game 3 mentality in the middle of a Game 7.

When it comes to living the life Jesus is calling us into, taking the steps He’s made clear to us, and obeying His commands, we should approach them like it’s Game 7. Now is the time, this is it, and today is the day!

We can declare the words of Psalm 119:60 (NLT), “I will hurry, without delay, to obey Your commands.”

Psalm 90:12 (ESV) says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

The New Living Translation says, “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”

Another way the Game 3 vs. Game 7 mentality plays out is in terms of living with peace and joy. Sadly, we often think we must wait until “the next game,” once our circumstances change or we get something we want, before we’ll have peace or joy.

No, it’s “Game 7,” so there is no reason to wait. Peace and joy are available now when we live a surrendered, Spirit-filled life following Christ.

Let’s embrace this exhortation from Paul as he wraps up his letter in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (AMP): “Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all.”

Today, let’s approach life like it’s Game 7, not waiting or delaying doing what we know we need to do. Let’s take the steps of faith, forgive, love, serve, give, obey, and experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) right now.

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please ignite my passion for living more urgently instead of delaying and procrastinating what’s most important. I desire to live a Spirit-filled life, know You more deeply, experience You in all I do, and obey Your will each day. Thank you for empowering me and producing the fruit of the Spirit in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.