With God on our side like this, how can we lose?
Romans 8:31 MSG

With football season here, many of us are cheering on our favorite teams. If you have kids who play sports, you know how much you love cheering for them! Parents cheer faithfully for their children, in everything from football games to school projects to church events. “You can do it!” and “Keep going!” we say.

Parents are the most loyal fans. God, our heavenly Father, is like that — He’s our biggest fan. He cheers us on every day as we journey through life. He cheers us on as we’re winning and cheers us on when we stumble and make mistakes. God never stops cheering for us; He is always for us, supporting us and loving us.

Psalm 56:9 (TLB) says, “This one thing I know: God is for me!” He watches over us and gives us the strength we need each day: “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT).

We have others cheering us on from heaven too: the great cloud of witnesses that Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) tells us about: “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” This great cloud of witnesses can also be described as “those who have gone before,” all the people of faith who are in heaven now, like those in our families who have gone on to heaven — parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles . . . those who have left us a legacy of faith. And our heroes of the faith that we read about in the Bible — Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and others—they’re an inspiration to us, having persevered their whole lives as they lived in faith (see Hebrews 11). These saints in heaven are all cheering us on.

So if you ever feel as if you’re alone in this race, or if the struggles you’re facing are too much, find comfort in the fact that while God will never leave your side, you also have a cloud of witnesses who overcame many obstacles of their own, and they are cheering your name.

Side note: On game day, if you’re watching a game from home or tailgating, you could make this Loaded Baked-Potato Dip to snack on. It’s loaded with lots of good things: sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon, and more. Serve the dip with wavy potato chips, waffle fries, or pretzels.

Loaded Baked-Potato Dip

PREP: 10 MIN. | COOK: 0 MIN. | TOTAL TIME: 10 MIN. | SERVINGS: 8

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream or light sour cream
• 1 (1-ounce) package ranch dressing and seasoning mix
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/3 cup green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup real bacon pieces or bits (from a 2.5-ounce package)
• Optional: salt and pepper to taste and/or a dash of hot sauce
• For garnish: remaining 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, 1/2 to 1 tablespoon each green onion slices and real bacon pieces or bits

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix the sour cream and ranch dressing mix, blending well.
2. Stir in 1 3/4 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, the sliced green onions, and the bacon pieces or bits. If desired, add some salt and pepper to taste, or a dash of hot sauce.
3. Spoon dip into a serving bowl, then cover and refrigerate for an hour before serving (can also be refrigerated overnight).
4. Before serving, garnish with remaining 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and 1/2 to 1 tablespoon each green onion slices and real bacon pieces or bits.

This beautiful new devotional cookbook, Simple Recipes for Busy Seasons, may just be our favorite new release of the year from DaySpring!

As we cycle through the seasons of our lives — enduring changes in the weather, our life stage, our activity level, and more — delicious meals can help anchor us to the present moment. This cookbook is filled with encouraging devotions that offer God’s peace and strength in the midst of chaos as well as recipes organized by season, so that even the busiest days can be filled with spiritual inspiration and enjoyable food. It includes Scriptures, quotes, and prayers alongside simple ingredients to make any crazy day into one that satisfies hunger and warms the soul.

Simple Recipes for Busy Seasons is designed for hectic moments, offering heartfelt devotions that encourage you to breathe, pause, and find peace in God’s presence, alongside quick, wholesome recipes that bring your family together without adding to your stress.