I recently read an article about former coach of the Miami Dolphins, Don Shula. To date, he holds the NFL record for most career wins—347 over a 32 season period. He led his team to two Super Bowl victories, one of which came after coaching them through the only perfect season in NFL history.
Apparently one of his keys to success was not dwelling on the past. Shula practiced what he termed the “24-hour rule”. He allowed himself, his coaching staff, and his players a maximum of 24 hours to celebrate a victory or sulk over a defeat. He encouraged them to feel their emotions of success or failure as deeply as they could during that block of time. But the next day he insisted everyone come to practice ready to prepare for the next game. They must put their past behind them and focus their energy on the goal: victory over their next opponents. Coach Shula believed that keeping their victories and failures in perspective enabled them to play better in the long run. After each 24-hour session ended, the entire team trained as if it were the first day of practice.
We, too, have the opportunity to start each day anew. God tells us in Lamentations 3:22-23, The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Every morning we awaken to God’s loving kindness, His compassion, His faithfulness. In other words, we start with a clean slate. At least that’s how God wants us to begin the day.
But all too often we drag the past along with us, either longing for the good old days or regretting mistakes and moping over wounds we’ve suffered. Whether patting ourselves on the back or gloomy with despair, we’re wasting energy that could be used to make this day a great one.
Focusing too long and too fondly on past victories leads us into pride. In that state we’ll see no need to concentrate on improving our “game”—Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling (Proverbs 16:18).
On the other hand, wallowing in self-pity or regret also distracts us from living today to the fullest. Blinded by those clouds of negativity, we’ll be unable to perceive the possibilities that lie before us and the potential God put within us.
We know from 2 Corinthians 2:11 that Satan has schemes of which we should be aware, lest he take advantage of us. And I Peter 5:8 warns us to Be of sober spirit, be on the alert… If the devil can keep us sidelined by distractions, whether negative or positive, then he wins and we lose!
We have the opportunity to learn from our past. Both failures and victories will train us if we pay attention. From them we can gain wisdom and insight into our enemy’s playbook. But the purpose of such learning is to lead us into future victories, not to keep our heads buried in the past. Let’s start each day unshackled by the past and ready for new victories.
