Obstacles = Opportunities

            Our obstacles equal opportunities.

            New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis was recently fined $7,000 by the NFL for wearing a “Man of God” headband, which is a uniform violation because players aren’t permitted to post personal messages that are visible during games. They can do it the week the league holds its “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign.

            But Demario didn’t complain about it and instead decided to have “Man of God,” “Woman of God” and “Child of God” headbands sold with 100 percent of the proceeds going to benefit the emergency department at St. Dominic’s hospital in his home state of Mississippi.

            Demario later won his appeal for the fine and donated the money to the cause. Within a few days, they raised $40,000 and are still going.

            It seems ridiculous that Davis was fined in the first place. But the league wasn’t singling him out. They have to be sticklers for the rule because if they allow one player to do it then they need to allow other players to write personal messages. It can get out of control and is difficult to police.

            Demario told me he in our latest episode he thought it was important to turn an OBSTACLE into an OPPORTUNITY

            That’s such an excellent message because in so many situations, what the enemy means for evil, God can turn into good. If our intentions are pure, if our hearts are focused on doing work for the Kingdom, God will take those obstacles we face and He will help us turn them into opportunities. Our mess becomes our message. Our test becomes our testimony.

            We can react two ways when we face obstacles. We can become angry, get defensive, rebel against authority or we can take those obstacles, tackle those challenges head-on and look for opportunities to turn those them into positives. But it can’t be self-serving for God knows our heart.