Formed by the Game: 30 Days of Seeing God in the Liturgies of SportSample

Post-Game Reflection

Every game has an aftermath—a time to pack up, leave the field, and replay moments in your mind. Athletes review plays, coaches dissect strategy, parents and fans talk through highs and lows. This post-game ritual is a liturgy of sport: a structured reflection that shapes how we respond to victory, defeat, and growth. It is a moment of truth, where performance meets conscience, and effort meets accountability.

Just as athletes engage in this reflective practice, Scripture calls us to spiritual self-examination. Paul encourages believers to examine themselves—to consider whether their hearts, motives, and actions align with Christ. Post-game reflection becomes a spiritual discipline when we use it to see where God was present, where we fell short, and how we can grow. Victory without reflection can breed pride, and defeat without reflection can foster bitterness. Both moments, examined through the lens of faith, become opportunities for God to teach, refine, and guide.

Next time you leave the field, locker room, or court, treat it as a liturgical moment: pause, review, and learn. Ask God to reveal where His presence was evident, where humility is needed, and where your character was shaped. Even mundane details—the missed pass, the encouraging word, the choice to cheer a teammate—can become sacramental, ordinary moments infused with God’s instruction.

Post-game reflection teaches us that sport is more than competition. Every practice, every game, every moment can be a liturgy that trains our hearts for obedience, gratitude, and dependence on God. By reflecting intentionally, we transform the ordinary rhythms of sport into spiritual formation that shapes both our character and our faith.

Prayer:
“Lord, help me to examine my heart and actions after every game, practice, and season. Teach me to see Your presence, learn from my mistakes, and grow in character and faith through the ordinary rhythms of sport. Amen.”