The Lord's Prayer (For Sportspeople)Sample

We are focussing on how Jesus’ instructions for how we should pray can help us as athletes, coaches, and officials.

Firstly, our Father is in heaven.

We saw last week that because Jesus Christ has died and risen, anyone who trusts in him has a perfect, wonderful, and loving relationship with God our Father. God loves us unconditionally because of what Christ has done on our behalf. So, you can feel safe in today’s game whether you win or lose, are a success or failure, since the love of God your Father is consistent and unchanging.

Secondly, our Father is in heaven

Our loving Father oversees the universe and will use everything that happens in today’s competition for the good of his children.

This can be hard to believe, particularly when things go wrong in our sport. Yet, it is true, and we can gain an insight into our Father’s universal authority and power by considering Jesus’ final words to his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20. There are three things to encourage us regarding God’s control of today’s game.

1. “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18

God the Father has given Jesus authority everywhere. Therefore, Jesus has complete control today on every pitch, track, changing room, and clubhouse.

2. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19

Our response to his authority over our sport is to go and make disciples of the ‘nation’ [the ‘people’] of sport. You can help teammates to understand and believe the good news of Jesus Christ so that they too can live under Jesus’ leadership. This is the wonderful privilege of God’s children as they represent their all-powerful Father in sport. And there won’t be a single moment or area of your sport where Jesus' power, authority, and control are absent since Jesus concludes:

3. “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Don’t fear your role as a disciple-maker in sport. God promises to be with his children for every moment leading up to, during, and after today’s game.

Furthermore, your Father will be present in all your sports, until the day comes when this life is over, and you meet Jesus Christ face-to-face. God will never leave his children. This is what it is like to have a Father in Heaven who loves you and supports you throughout your sporting career and your whole life.

So, what do I do now?

Before you talk to God today, remind yourself that you are talking to the heavenly Father described above.

Remember that you are praying to God your Father who has universal authority and that he chose to give you the ability to be an athlete, coach, or official. God is completely in control of the life he has given you, the talents you have, and the sporting relationships you have today.

God your Father has charged you with making disciples in the ‘nation,’ the ‘people’ of sport.

This is ‘our Father in heaven.’

What a privilege it is to belong to him as we compete today.

Go play.

Prayer

Our Father, thank you that you are the Lord of heaven and earth. Thank you that you have complete authority over this world today, and that you rule over today’s game. Please help me to trust in your sovereign power today, as I express your God-given talents and relationships in sport.

Amen.