Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Prayer for one's opponent

Father,

Thank you for the provision of a worthy and challenging opponent. 

May we each compete honorably and in a way that demonstrates dignity and respect.

May we each experience the best of (sport) today. 

Amen.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Prayer after a bitter defeat

Father,

Losing like this is painful and leaves a bitter taste in our mouths.

Failures like this threaten to rob us of the joy and satisfaction we love about (sport).

Please restore our hearts, our bodies, and our minds. 

Help us learn from this defeat and return to compete again.

Please restore to us the passion for and fulfillment of our lives in (sport).

Amen.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Prayer of thanksgiving for sport

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for (sport). It engages my body, my mind, and my spirit in pursuit of victory, joy, and fulfillment.

Thank You for allowing me to sense both Your presence and Your pleasure as I compete.


Amen.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Prayer for an injured teammate

Father,

My teammate is injured and I confess my shock, fear, and utter helplessness.

Please minimize his pain, heal his body, and restore him to compete again.

Please be very near to him in these moments of alienation and fear.

I commit my teammate; body, mind, and spirit, to Your lovingkindness.

Amen. 

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Bed time prayer the night after competing

Merciful Father,

Thank you for this day's competition.

I commit the results into Your hands as a sacrifice of love. 

I confess my weakness and sin as revealed by today's contest.

I abide in Your grace and mercy.

Thank You for a worthy opponent, loving teammates, respectful officials, and wise coaches.

Please allow my mind to rest, my body to recover, and my spirit to be at peace.

Amen.

Post-game prayer

Father,

Thank you for today's competition.

Thank you for energizing my effort, renewing my mind, inhabiting my spirit, and receiving my effort as an act of worship.

I confess the sin You revealed as I competed.

I release the results, my performance, and tonight's rest and recovery to Your gracious care.

Amen.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Prayer for emotional self-control

Father, 

Please empower me with control over my emotions as I compete.

By Your Spirit, enable me to overcome every factor that would lead to a loss of emotional self-control.

I commit every emotion I will experience to Your wise guidance and ask that You guard my heart from foolish reactions.

Amen.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Prayer for renewed strength

Almighty Father,

My legs feel rubbery and my back is sore. 

My arms hang down and my shoulders slump.

Please infuse me with Your strength.

Please restore power to my body, mind, and spirit.

You are the strength of my life and my portion forever.

I commit all that I am and all that I have to You.

In Jesus' strong name I pray,

Amen.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Bed time prayer the night before competing

Gracious Father,

As I anticipate tomorrow's competition, please enable me to rest well, to awaken refreshed, and to trust You with tomorrow's results.

I am well prepared and thankful for my life in (sport).

I commit my life and this night's sleep into Your watchful care.

Amen.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Prayer for Christ-honoring competition

Father,

Thank You for creating me with a powerful spirit, a strong body, and a growing mind.

Thank You for providing a competitive and honorable opponent for this contest.

Thank You for providing wise coaches, just officials, and helpful support personnel.

May we each and all compete in a Christ-honoring way.

May we each and all experience the best (sport) has to offer as we compete.

May we each and all have a profound sense of your presence and pleasure in every moment of the competition.

I pray in Jesus' strong name.

Amen.

Prayer for the consecration of sport

Almighty Father,

Thank you for (sport).

(Sport) is a beautiful and valuable part of Your creation.

I commit this day's experience in (sport) to You and ask that You receive it as a holy and acceptable offering.

(Sport) is our reasonable act of worship as we offer our bodies in Your service .


Amen.