Should I Change My Mind? | FFF Friday

Fantasy Football is a blast because after every season, we know it starts fresh the following year. Those of us who have been playing for a long time have acquired a lot of information about Fantasy and know the players and their past performances. 

We remember their big rookie season, and we can't forget the major injuries they suffered. We also cling to what they accomplished with their previous teams.

Along the way, we also develop philosophies and beliefs about Fantasy Football. We’re convinced that certain positions are more valuable to draft early; we have our reasons for eagerly drafting or not drafting rookies; we avoid players of a certain age; and we never draft players from bad NFL teams.

No question, developing distinct strategies and mindsets can be very beneficial as Fantasy managers. Also, experience and context from previous seasons are very helpful as we approach this year’s draft.

However, this is a new season, and we have to be willing to change some of our mindsets and perspectives about different players or Fantasy philosophies we once had.

Along the way, we might have picked up some beliefs that are just wrong, and certain thoughts about specific players just aren’t true. At one point, we might have believed a player was injury-prone, but now he’s been healthy for three consecutive years, so we need to reconsider our view of him.

Or maybe we thought a player was once worthy of a top pick, but now he’s older and less productive, so our perspective needs to shift. We might have previously believed we needed to avoid drafting players from a particular NFL team, but now we need to alter that approach because they have a new coach.

The reality is that there are many reasons our Fantasy Football thoughts need to change: it's a new season, and many old mindsets and perspectives need to go away.

At the same time, we must also realize that the foundation of the activity, the fun traditions, and what is required to win haven't changed.

The need for research, strong lineup management, and drafting players with good value doesn't change. Scoring more points than our opponent and choosing the best players is always good and right.

So, as Fantasy managers, we can still hold onto the foundational truths of the hobby we love and stay rooted in many of its tenets and traditions while allowing our minds to change in the right ways.

As we know, change is part of every aspect of life, and as followers of Jesus, we must be willing to ask God in prayer, "Do I need to change my mind and perspective on this?" Am I thinking about this the right way, and do my thoughts align with Scripture? Do I have the correct perspective about that person?

Over the years, we have thought certain things, picked up bad mindsets, and developed particular wrong beliefs, but God wants us to renew our minds and adopt a new outlook through the lens of the gospel and a Biblical worldview.

Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT) tells us, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

The challenge we face is that the culture and the world are constantly changing while telling us to shift our minds to think like them.

Of course, we can adapt to some changes in the world, but we ought also to recognize when they are destructive and run counter to the character of God and His Word.

Wisdom, discernment, and prayer are required instead of unquestioningly accepting that every change the culture is loudly pushing is correct. Additionally, we must remember that Jesus doesn’t change and God’s Word is truth and remains the same.

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NIV).

As His followers, we must stand firm on His foundation, hold fast to the unchanging fundamentals of our faith in God, know what Scripture says, and live according to His will.

Hebrews 10:23 (NLT) encourages us: “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.”

Ultimately, our minds do need to change regarding any sinful, negative thoughts. So, let’s be influenced by God’s Word and submit to the power of the Holy Spirit as we align ourselves with the Truth (Jesus).

At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, we read in Matthew 4:17 (AMP): “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

Today, let’s ask God to change our thoughts, perspectives, and views in the right ways and renew our minds.

Let’s be challenged by Romans 12:2 (NIV): “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

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

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that You continue to renew my mind and align it with You. Help me to stand firm in my faith and cling to the hope of the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s in His name I pray, Amen.