The Power of a DaySample

“You’re on a gravy train with biscuit wheels.” - Ernie McCracken (Kingpin)

In the cult-classic comedy film Kingpin, Roy Munson, played by Woody Harrelson, gets introduced to the con world of bowling. Roy teams up with Ernie, a fellow con man played by Bill Murray. During one of their cons, Ernie lays out the famous line to Roy.

“You’re on a gravy train with biscuit wheels.”

From that moment on, it seems like everything for Roy goes bad. Have you ever felt like you were on a gravy train with biscuit wheels when everything fell apart? I remember when I felt like that. It was March 2020.

I was trading bond options when Covid happened. The market went crazy, out of my control, and wiped out nearly a quarter of a million dollars. My gravy train was gone instantaneously.

What about Moses? In Exodus 2, Moses is rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter. He’s raised in the palace. Moses has anything and everything he could ever want. Moses is on a gravy train with biscuit wheels. Moses decides to check out the Israelites in Midian, where he sees the first-hand punishment they are receiving. He gets mad. Moses kills a man. Onlooking Israelites saw what he did. Moses gets scared and runs away.

So what do you do when the gravy train with biscuit wheels is destroyed? Do you run away like Moses? Do you get depressed? Do you allow your mind to replay negativity?

There is a big difference between knowing what to do and doing what you know you need to do. The Power of a Day is a reminder of God’s faithfulness. Even in weakness, God is your strength. Even when life is not going the way you want, continue to trust.

The Power of a Day happened to Moses while tending sheep in the wilderness. A burning bush came out of nowhere to remind him of God’s promise. The night before, Moses was just a shepherd. The following day, he was a chosen vessel by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

When I lost all that money during Covid, I felt lost. I felt so lost that I wrote a devotional titled Whispers. I realized my trust was in mammon and not in God. I was serving the wrong master.

My thoughts were occupied with the wrong things. It took losing it all to understand The Power of a Day. You can read the devotional to see what God did next.

What about you?

What promise do you need to hold onto?

Maybe you were on a hot streak. Everything was going your way, and suddenly it was gone?

Where is your trust?

What is God trying to say to you?

What does He want from you?

What can you give him during this time?

What do you need to repent of before the Lord?

What are you holding onto that you need to let go of?

Before you go, I want to leave you with one last thing. Exodus 3 says Moses led his flock to the far side of the wilderness near Horeb (called the mountain of God). What is interesting about this area is how Moses was drawn toward the Lord. He didn’t have to go to that area, but he chose to. Even when life didn’t seem to go Moses’ way, he still drew near to the Lord.

What about you and your heart?

Is it drawing closer to the things of God?

When life does not go your way, do you draw away from the Lord?

Do you blame the Lord for what is happening?

What are the words coming out of your mouth?

In Matthew 12:34, Jesus goes specifically into this idea when he says, ‘Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.”

Your words are a reflection of your heart. The Power of a Day is contingent on the condition of your heart in the good times and even more in the tough times.

I feel led to pray with you and for you on this central theme.

Lord, help soften their heart. I ask for any unforgiveness to be made known.

I ask for you to be made known in their life.

Your mercies are new every morning.

You are a father to the fatherless.

You are a mighty fortress to all who run toward you.

I ask for an awakening in their spirit today.

I ask for new hope and strength to move forward.

I ask for renewed vision in their life.

Speak to them in a voice they know.

Make it so clear to them that you are with them.

Bless them and keep them.

May your face shine upon them.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Let me know what resonated with you the most.

I’m rooting and praying with you.

Coach Anthony Thompson