The Lord's Prayer (For Sportspeople)Sample

"Your Kingdom come."

Who is in charge of today’s game?

It is not the chairperson, manager, or coach. It’s not your teammates, your opponents, or the officials. All these people have a part to play and deserve respect for their role. However, God is in charge and Jesus instructs us to pray that God’s kingdom might come in today’s game.

What does the kingdom of God mean?

In the Bible, the kingdom of God means the reign or rule of God as king.

God has shown throughout the Bible the wonderful promises of his kingdom. God’s rule will be for the benefit of his children wherever they find themselves.

So, God our King oversees making the best possible impact in and through your life today as an athlete, coach or official.

As we pray that our Father in heaven may do this, there are three perspectives that might help us clarify our prayers.

1. The Past: the kingdom has already come.

God’s kingdom came nearer than ever before when Jesus Christ, God’s son, came into the world two thousand years ago. Jesus says in Mark 1:15 “The time has come; the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” King Jesus initiated his kingdom in this world and instructed that humanity should turn and trust in him as their ruler. If you have done so, you are already a member of God’s kingdom.

2. The Present: the kingdom is here right now.

Having already trusted in Jesus as your king, you will represent him today at the game. In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus explains that “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” As you compete today, the kingdom of God is present because you are present at your game. You are his ambassador today at your club.

3. The Future: the kingdom will be evident to all when Jesus returns to earth.

Jesus says in Revelation 22:20 “Yes, I am coming soon.” And the writer John says “Amen, come Lord Jesus.”

The Kingdom came when Jesus came to earth, died, and rose to offer us a new life under his reign. The kingdom continues today as he always lives in us, including today’s game. One day in the future, King Jesus will finally ensure that everyone in the world submits to God’s kingdom under God’s rule. This conclusion will be the judgment day when God rewards his children and judges his enemies.

How will this impact our Game Day?

We have the privilege and responsibility to live as subjects of our king and to be ambassadors of God’s kingdom today. We need God's help to live in line with our Father's values, play in a way that honors God and our teammates, and speak graciously so that we may demonstrate the kingdom of God at the game.

May God’s kingdom come as the rule of King Jesus is evident:

• In our own lives as we use our sporting gifts today.
• In the lives of our sporting colleagues as they see God at work in us. May they be drawn to the great king and accept his rule.
• And then maybe a final prayer is for Jesus to come back and wrap it all up and bring his rule to completion. What a day that will be!

Our Father in Heaven – your kingdom come. Go play.

Prayer

Lord, thank you that you are my king at today’s competition. Thank you for what you have done at the cross, are doing right now as I play my game, and for the day you will return to bring about your final and entire leadership of the whole creation.

May I compete in a way that represents your kingdom and rule today and may it impact the lives of many other sportspeople around me.

Amen.