We Have a Cheering Section
We Have a Cheering Section
I wanted to be on the pep squad at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, but my home life with a very sick daddy didn’t warrant it.
But I guarantee you I am my own pep squad when one of my grands are playing in a sport or some other competition. I can holler, shout, and cheer them on with the best of them. I might have been so excited before, that I squeezed a cup of ice water all over me! Or dumped a bag of popcorn!
I have found that home field advantage can mean everything in sports. Our teams, when played at “home” often have a far better record than those on the road. When a team has someone cheering them on, they can often outplay their ability.
Did you know that we have “a great cloud of witnesses” cheering us on from heaven’s grandstands (the great men and women who have already run their races and finished in triumph)?
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith”.
Nothing we do is private. We have an audience. Heaven is watching. That should encourage us because it means we have a cheering section.
God knows everything. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says: “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth”. The Lord doesn’t miss a thing. He knows our ups and our downs, every thought we have, every concern, every victory — everything.
We’re also surrounded by “a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith.” Moses is watching us. Abraham is watching us. I love to imagine that my sweetheart, my mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, and every believer who has ever lived is in the stands watching me live out my faith. And, wow, does that ever bolster my faith — just like my grandson hearing his mom, dad and me shouting out his name when he steps up to the bat! We’re not doing life alone!
I am being cheered onward. And you also have a pep squad cheering you on too! When we’re afraid, they’re rooting for us to be courageous. When we tire and want to give up, they’re urging us to keep going. When we feel insignificant and forgotten, they’re in our corner.
Everyone at some point feels like no one believes in them. But, oh, contraire! When we’re having one of “those” days or when loneliness creeps in and makes us think we’re doing this human race without cheerleaders on the sidelines, then let’s remember we’re never alone.
Our heavenly cheering squad believes in us and are shouting: “Your help is in God – the maker of heaven and earth!’ (Psalm 121:2) We can do this! We are on the winning team!
And, P.S. (postscript) — I just want you to know that I am cheering you on today. Whether you feel forgotten, forsaken, depressed, worried, or concerned today, let me reassure you that I sensed Father God urging me to tell you, He, the LEAD cheerleader is shouting down all the lies of the enemy and loudly encouraging you:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)