The Atlanta Falcons are probably still reeling from their brutal Super Bowl loss, but a new season is around the corner and they’ve made changes to both their coaching staff and roster.
One of the more intriguing decisions they made was to add former college coach, Steve Sarkisian, as this year’s offensive coordinator.
The Falcons had a potent offense during their run to the Super Bowl last season, but their previous coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, has taken over as the head coach in San Francisco.
Now with Sarkisian in charge of the offense, it’s important he’s working well with two-time Pro Bowler, Devonta Freeman, and continues to get him involved.
Based on recent comments from Freeman about his new coach, it sounds like their relationship is off to a good start:
“The thing I like about him is he’s very flexible with every guy on the team — the whole coaching staff is. If it’s something that we have a problem running, we can go to him and talk to him about it and explain [it]. And I believe that if it’s a good enough reason, he’ll let us do it our way. … I definitely think he’s going to put us in the best situation to have success.”
In football, many people contribute to the success of a team. With input coming from multiple places, it makes sense that flexibility is an important characteristic. Freeman has positive thoughts about Sarkisian because he’s open and willing to adjust.
I know in my own life, I enjoy being around and working with people who are flexible. We can all have strong convictions and stand firm at the right times, but it’s nice when people aren’t so stuck in their ways and are willing to listen to the advice of others.
With flexibility, comes a great openness to change and a willingness to alter our plans when life doesn’t go the way we thought it would. If we really submit to God’s will and pursue the path He wants us to take, we have to let go of our resistance and be more flexible to His promptings for change.
When we stop fighting Him with our hard hearts, we can be completely open to what He’s wanting to do in us and through us.
Philippians 2:13 (NLT) teaches us: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.”
Today, let’s be encouraged to be flexible in our interactions with others and let’s surrender to Jesus so that we can experience freedom from our stubborn ways.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the stubbornness I hold onto. Please help me to daily surrender to You, and experience freedom and flexibility to do what pleases You. I believe You are working in me with Your power, and I pray I would know Your desires for my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
