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Just Take A Knee

One of the most unnecessary losses in college football history took place in 2023 when Miami fell to Georgia Tech 20-23.

Leading by three with 1:18 left, all Miami had to do was take a knee two times for the game to be over.

However, the team bypassed the kneel-down, Donald Chaney Jr. fumbled the ball, and Georgia Tech recovered with 26 seconds remaining.

From there, the Yellow Jackets strung together a series of improbable plays to pull off the shocking upset.

During the broadcast, analyst Tim Hasselbeck said, “Just take a knee. You should not be handing this football off. I don’t know what Miami is doing.”

While we can criticize Miami for not taking a knee, I wonder how often we bypass the kneel-down in our own lives.

In the moments we need a “win” in life, we have to be willing to “just take a knee” in prayer by coming to the Lord in a posture of humility.

In Matthew 15, there’s a story of the Canaanite woman whose daughter was oppressed by a demon, and verse 25 says, “But she came and knelt before Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’”

After Jesus asked her a question and she demonstrated her faith, He answered her in verse 28: “’O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.”

Jesus also gives us an example of taking a knee in full surrender. Before the victory of the cross, Luke 22:41-42 explains, “And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.’”

Oftentimes, when we’re looking for answers or struggling with something, we foolishly overlook embracing the “kneel-down.” Of course, we can pray anywhere in any position and God hears us, but there’s power when we humbly surrender ourselves and drop to our knees.

Today, let’s find victory as we freely take a knee and seek the Lord.

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

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the powerful ways You move in my life as I pray. Help me to drop to my knees in complete dependence on You. Thank You for responding to my prayers. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.