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

Pre-Game Focus

The hours before a game are filled with intentionality. Athletes tape wrists, lace shoes, and run through drills. Coaches deliver last-minute instructions, parents offer encouragement, and teammates share quiet moments of focus. In sport culture, pre-game preparation is both practical and psychological, shaping confidence, focus, and performance. These moments are a sacred rhythm—a liturgy of readiness where effort, intention, and focus are cultivated before entering the arena.

Spiritually, pre-game focus mirrors the need for spiritual preparation. Proverbs reminds us to commit our plans to the Lord, inviting Him into our preparation and intentions. Just as athletes tune their minds and bodies, we are called to tune our hearts and spirits before life’s challenges, competitions, or opportunities to serve. Prayer, reflection, and gratitude can transform ordinary preparation into a sacred practice, aligning our focus with God’s purposes.

Next time you find yourself preparing—whether for a game, a presentation, or a demanding season—consider it a liturgical moment. Pause to invite God into your preparation, reflect on the resources and talents He has given you, and focus on serving Him through your effort. The external preparations—equipment, drills, and warm-ups—mirror internal spiritual readiness, creating harmony between physical effort and faith-filled intention.

Pre-game focus teaches that preparation is both practical and spiritual. By committing plans, intentions, and focus to God, ordinary moments of preparation become sacred acts. Every ritual, stretch, or moment of concentration can be infused with purpose, awareness, and worship, setting the tone for performance that honors Him above all else.

Prayer:
“Lord, help me to commit my preparation to You. Teach me to align my focus, intentions, and efforts with Your purposes, trusting You to guide my performance and heart in every opportunity. Amen.”