Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.”   We will all be knocked down at times in life and in various ways.  It is a part of life that cannot be escaped and should be used as an opportunity for growth, leadership, trust and wisdom.  When the great linebacker Mike Singletary played for the Chicago Bears, he was known for making tackles all over the field from one sideline to the other.  It seems that he always knew where the ball carrier was going to be and he usually got there in time to stop the play.  A reporter asked him after a game, “How do you get knocked down by a couple of linemen on one side of the field, and then a second or two later make a tackle on the other side?”  His answer, “I always get up and move forward.”  Another football giant was Vince Lombardi who coached and led by the same attitude and said to his players, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up!”

It’s the same in life and our Christian life and leadership.  We will all get knocked down in life from all types of daily events from illnesses, to financial problems, family issues, work and career challenges and many more.  These are the times we must not give up or cave in.  We must get up and live by our verse this week that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.  This means that we must do our part by claiming His strength, get up and move forward.  Just as physical and coaching strength helped Mike Singletary get up and make the tackle to move forward, we must claim the strength of Christ to get up and move forward in all things.  One word which describes this biblical principle in life is perseverance to overcome being knocked down.  Remember that perseverance in life and leadership is like riding a bicycle.  “You don’t fall off, unless you stop peddling.”