In The Red Zone

In the modern age of football defense has become a premium as the rules bend to favor the offenses and as the passing game has become more practiced and accomplished. No matter the level of play it is becoming increasingly more difficult to stop the high powered offenses. I would argue that in sixman football this has always been the case and even more so today.

In the realm of football, the red zone represents the final frontier before reaching the end zone. It is a critical juncture where the offense faces tremendous challenges in scoring a touchdown. Similarly, in the game of life, breaking a bad habit stands as a formidable task that demands unwavering determination and resilience. Both scenarios share commonalities in their difficulty, requiring a combination of skill, strategy, and mental fortitude to achieve success.

While a sixman field is a little narrower and shorter the fact remains there is more space per player on the field to defend. Every coach at every level wants to stop the "explosive" play. This is a play for over 20 yards. The mindset is the more plays it takes the opposing offense to move down the field the more opportunity there is for stopping them.

It becomes increasingly and statistically more difficult to score a touchdown inside the opponents 20 yard line. The field becomes much shorter and your playbook options as an offense become more limited. Physicality is a premium in the red zone because the yards become longer and harder to obtain. Likewise, when an individual seeks to break a bad habit, they face a condensed battleground within their mind, where old patterns and triggers persistently obstruct progress. As the allure of the habit lingers, the resolve to overcome it must be steadfast.

Often,the teams that are successful in the red zone are the ones where grit, camaraderie and determination are engrained in their culture. Likewise, breaking a bad habit demands unwavering discipline, as every decision and action contributes to the overall success. Embracing a support system of friends, family, and faith can provide invaluable assistance, acting as the team behind an individual's efforts.

The greatest of these is your faith. In the book of Philippians 4:13 it is written, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This verse reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles and can find inner strength through our faith in God. We are not alone. God knows our goal lines and is help us into the endzone if we will trust in Him.

The fact is that too many times we find ourselves in the red zone of life and do not realize how close we are to a breakthrough from the sin that is working to deny us victory. Satan becomes stronger as we get closer to our spiritual goals. In Psalms 34:17-18 we are comforted:

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

This passage reassures us that even in moments of weakness, there is divine help available for those who seek Him with sincerity. Through prayer and supplication we can put on the full armour of God and overcome the obstacles that are limiting our potential in God.

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey. We will find ourselves in the red zone of life. Just as athletes triumph on the football field and find their way to the end zone, so too can individuals overcome their bad habits and sin, reaching the end zone of a healthier and more fulfilling life.