Some athletes in America recite this prayer before competitions in our day. Help us to conduct ourselves as you would, with grace and kindness. Settle my temper so that I treat everyone with courtesy. Prayers as athletes who follow Jesus should be no different. Once the game clock goes to zero, its a great time forgratitude. Help all we do with this event to reflect your presence Just remember you dont win or lose because of your lucky socks or your lucky prayers. -Psalm 62:8. Always remember hes a good father who loves his kids and is making you into a person that reflects His character. What if we could move away from simply selfish prayers during a game and learned to love God by thinking about other people in the middle of the games? A few post-game ideas as we close. Amen. Make my path straight and give me the perseverance and grace to complete my training with all my effort and with a good attitude. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:9-13, I Thessalonians 5:17,18tells us that part of walking with Jesus is to pray without ceasing.. my heart. I know you will strengthen they will run and not grow weary, When we look back on this competition, let us see that we committed ourselves fully to the game and emerged with dignity and respect for our competition. God, let me play well but fairly. With Prayerscapes songs, ministry tracks and meditative instrumental music. We need to develop the life habit of thanking God for everything that He allows into our life and story. Share with us your Spirit of peace and love for one another. They do it to get a crown that will not last. Prayer for Referees Almighty Father, we ask that your wisdom comes over the referees for our game, so that they may have clarity of thought and discernment when making the calls. I do it to get a crown that will last forever. Required fields are marked *. Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Athlete's team prayer before a game of sport (a prayer suitable for a team to pray before a sports game such as baseball, softball or basketball). The competition was maintained despite the earthquake which struck eastern Turkey and Syria on February 6, causing more than 50,000 deaths (including more than 44,000 in Turkey) according to the latest reports. Give each one of us the courage to play the game in a manner, which by our words and our actions, is pleasing to you. Amen. Let hope flood my mind and grace give me strength, We humbly gratify You for guiding us in our efforts to showcase the mathematical prowess You have entrusted with us, in every attempt to help others treasure and hone their own skills and talents, and in every move to inch our way up to the highest level of competitions such as these. Prayer for Before Any Game God our Father, help us to put forth our best effort, to represent our school with class, to respect our opponents, and to grow as disciples of your Son, Jesus. And realize that as long as they have done their best, it is also a victory for them. Keep us under the protection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. (1 Chronicles 4:10, NIV), "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. Introduction. And as we ask for Your forgiveness, please help us to be reminded that we, too, should forgive as You have done. Psalm 118:13-14 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The following prayer is fitting for a game, competition, workout, or even practice: Reducing anxiety and preparing for competitions, such as via the use of pre-game religious rituals and practices such as prayer, are evident among many athletes. Thank you for giving me your word. Amen. once the game is over. Prayers from Gods people should hold Him up as high and holy and desire for his kingdom to come and His ways to rule on the earth. Positive Parental Involvement In Sports, Spiritual Thirst A Reflection on the Samaritan, Your email address will not be published. We ask this in your name, Lord Jesus. There is training, striving and becomingboth on the field and off. Repetition in a familiar environment can help alleviate a lot of stress when preparing the athlete for competition. We thank You for the multitude of blessings You have bestowed upon us in the form of our families and friends, our abilities and talents, and even the most uncanny circumstances. Being disappointed and hurting because of the loss is not ungodlyit is quite human. Amen. Help us to follow the rules and not be tempted to do things that may end up causing harm to others in our effort to win the game. Here is a prayer from the Book of Blessings that incorporates. It does mean that all of life is spent in the presence of God and in a posture of heart that is prayerful. Your email address will not be published. Proverbs 25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory. Many times pre-game prayers can be a "rah-rah" talk or desperate plea for a big win. Understanding what God wants could change your approach to prayer. It is not immodest to perform in the arena and display the talents which derive from God grace. Help us to play to the best of our abilities. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Unless noted otherwise, the material of this website is copyright free. Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. We thank you especially for the ability to participate in sports today together, as a team. I know you will strengthen my heart. Lord, I admit that my prayers before competition are more focused on the scoreboard than on becoming like You. Amen. Share with us your Spirit of peace and love for one another. If I know victory, allow me to be happy; if I am denied, keep me from envy. In your holy name, I pray. Amen. Lord, we thank you for the gifts and abilities you have blessed these athletes with,and we pray that they may use them to glorify you. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Let competition make me strong but never hostile. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Universe of Faithis a Catholic website which offers an opportunity for any person to explore how the Catholic faith can be applied in real life and also to open windows on the teachings of the Catholic Church. Amen. A strong support group is necessary to achieve success in any sport. I wait for you, Lord, to give me new strengthto run and not get tired. Be encouraged as you prepare to give of your best in this event! Prayer for Before Any Game God our Father, help us to put forth our best effort, to represent our school withclass, to respect our opponents, and to grow as disciples of your Son, Jesus. Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reachmore than 20 million unique users per month! We ask You now, dear God, to equip us with all the things necessary to make us conduct this event truly in Your honor. They will soar on wings like eagles; 1 Samuel 12:24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Let this competition serve as a way to praise your name and spread your good news. I will respect and honor my teammates, coaches and opponents. Amen. Grant to all athletes, coaches, and fans, strength to pursue excellenceduring this event. It is often said before and after athletic competitions to help athletes win. Prayer for Competition God, let me play well, but fairly. Amen. You stoop down to make me great. Reid Monaghan is a former University of North Carolina wrestler, AIA staff person, and pastor. Here is a great prayer that you can pray before a game, competition, workout or even practice: "Lord, I compete for You alone. Put it on our hearts to give our best and treat each other with the utmost respect. Thank you for showing me my ability to play sports. For the Christian athlete prayer is a practice of the presence of God in relationship in the midst of all things. Amen. We dont want to stoop down into the mud of blaming God for defeats or just praising him for victories. We ask that all involved in todays/tonights game may be kept free from injuriesand that you will be with us as we leave this place today/tonight. I believe it is the way of my becoming the truly human person you destined me to be. Doing the same or similar things before matches or games can help calm the mind and focus the athlete's heart on the task at hand. All of life is in relationship with God for the Christian and this certainly includes the moments before, during and after our games. Develop in me a pure heart. The content of this website is faithful to the Catholic faith with space for journeying, questioning, doubting, and searching. Our opponents are very good, and we need to win this game. A few post-game ideas as we close. Universe of Faith is an initiative of the Pastoral Formation Institute, Malta. You told me to run in such a way as to get the prize. Thank God that even these things are ordered for your growth and good. Make me understand that the prize of winning the game here on earth will fade away, and that the real prize is eternal. And in all things may Christ be praised! 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. The Sovereign Lord is high and holy and can handle your disappointment for sure. The athletes who use a clear mindset are those you see before a competition talking to coaches, teammates, or even their competition. Never catch me rejoicing in the adversity of others. Grant "Pour out your hearts before Him. Every game has planned breaks in the actionhalftime, quarters, time between periods, races, etc. My sweat is an offering to my heavenly Master. This includes the wins as well as the losses. Bestow your generosity and love to all of us present today and bless also those who are left at home. Apologize to refs/officials, coaches, teammates or competitors if you were a jerk and lost your head in the game. It includes that slower time in the race that devastates you after training so hard for better results. We pray this in your most holy name. Let me play today in that light as a servant of Christ., Father, remind me that Im accepted by you fully in Jesus Christ as a daughter or son by faith. All this we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Amen. A few days before the start of the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Istanbul, the French team is traveling to a battered country. Lord Jesus, you tell us that whenever two or more are gathered in your name, you are present in their midst. Have athletes perform in front of spectators and peers. Christian athletes are not perfect but we should practice repentance and own where we screw up. Bless us with a team spirit of goodwill, both for ourselves and for the team we face in the game. Theres a great theological truth you need to know:When you step on the playing field, God is with you. Honestly, all of that preparation should have been done the months, weeks and days before. Many times in these gaps the team talks to one another and receives instruction from the coaching staff. Bless the winners that they may be humble in their victory. I declare my loyalty to You. Include mini meets in practice that simulate the competition. May 14, 2022 Prayer for athletes before a game When your child is playing a competitive sport, it can seem overwhelming. It might seem strange to offer a prayer before an athletic event, but in truth, the prayer doesnt have to be for a particular winner. Please help them to judge wisely and fairly so that we can have a fair game, win or lose. Some athletes in America recite this prayer before competitions in our day. Prayer to Build Each Other Up Heavenly Father, please bless todays game, our opponents, our team and all who are watching us play. Thank God that even these things are ordered for your growth and good. Help us to be the best we can possibly be, striving to play fairly and to play well. If you can think of more than one, recount them all! It includes the touchdown you scored and the time you got burned for a touchdown. 1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. Lord God, our Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity to gather together this afternoon/evening in competition. Prayer for Awareness of Gods Presence Father in Heaven, we ask Your blessing on the game we are about to play. Most of all, help me never to quit in my efforts to be open to you. Prayer to Understand Winning Dear Jesus, all good athletes are disciplined in their training. What if we could move away from simply selfish prayers during a game and learned to love God by thinking about other people in the middle of the games? I am Your warrior in the heat of battle. That would be radical, but it would also be retraining our hearts to properly worship in the midst of competition. Help us to play with all our strength and with the spirit of good sportsmanship. All this we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There's a great theological truth you need to know: When you step on the playing field, God is with you. These pauses also contain moments where the Christian athlete can talk to the King. May your loving heart fill each of us so that, We could realize that it is not winning that truly counts. Many times during games we can forget that God is at work in the lives of many people. Forbid me from rejoicing in the adversity of others. "Our creative words, music and films are to serve youour heart is to bring hope into suffering, light into dark places, and inspiration to release God's love like a wave of restoration into a broken world. The I Thessalonians 5passage tells us togive thanks in all things. Bless also the losers that they may be gracious in their loss. In this way we perform an act of worship, showcasing the gifts which God has given us. Help the team work well and communicate with each other. Keep Jesus words in mind as we reflect on how we should pray: Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Christian athletes are not perfect but we should practice repentance and own where we screw up. Christian prayer should express our dependence upon God for all things and the centrality of forgiveness found in the gospel. of his presence with us in the game. Powerful Father, you told me that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. Let praise be the sound that fills up my soul, All rights reserved. In the days beyond this one, please guide us with Your everlasting and unfailing love so that we may continue to live and touch others with what good we have within, so that we may leave our mistakes in the past, and so that we may be better children of Yours. I wear Your jersey, Lord. How we process the post-game is important. My body is Your temple; nothing enters my body that is not honoring to You. Though war may rise against me,in this I will be confident. It is a wonderful prayer to recite but we must not forget that it was also an example of HOW we should pray. The prayer can be simply focused on the health and well-being of all involved, and that each athlete will perform their best. Please keep them all safe on their way to my game, during my game, and on their way home from the game. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. For in the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion, in the secret place of his tabernacle he shall hide me, he shall set me high upon a rock. Help us to be aware of his presence with us in the game. In every victory and every loss, I play for You. (Isaiah 40:31, NIV). How we process the post-game is important. * This was written by Reid Monaghan and was posted at athletesinaction.org in 2016. When Jesus was asked to teach his friends to pray he gave them an example which was passed down to us as the Lords Prayer.. Many times during games we can forget that God is at work in the lives of many people. Let faith be the wind that I feel on my face, You have made my light shine before everyone! Athletes Prayer Before a Competition athletes prayers Let love fill my lungs (a prayer for an athlete to say before a race) Let love fill my lungs as I breathe for this race, Let joy fill the sails of my heart. Help us to be the best we can possibly be, striving to play fairly and to play well. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, for these two teams, for the chance to study, to understand the world around us a little better, for the health to be here, for the thrill of a sporting event and for individuals leaning to play as a team. Before competition, the word I want you to have in your mind isprepare. Strengthen my effort and focus when I train for my sport, and for the race I am running for the eternal prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. Amen. Give us the grace to play our best, to be a good sport, win or lose, and to honor you with our efforts. Dear God, we thank you for allowing us to gather here before you in this competition not as enemies but as friends. Equally as important for the physical ability of an athlete as it is the mental comfort, many athletes tend to consume certain meals, snacks, or drinks before the competition with the intention of replicating past successful performance by producing similar energy levels. You make my feet like the feet of a deer. Once the game clock goes to zero, its a great time for gratitude. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. ", The First Black NFL Coach You Likely Havent Heard Of. Keep my light strong and bright. I desire to pour out my heart before You every day that I compete. We ask you, Father, to bless each one of us and especially the coaches, officials and players. Prayer for Training All-knowing Savior, the training and rigor is not fun. Always let me help my. All our latest music releases in one place! Guide us graciously so we may understand that in the end, real triumph is achieved when we do our best in honor of You, almighty Father, and not when we claim the trophy for ourselves after wee have done others wrong. There are practices, games and time spent in coach's offices as well as at home. Here is a prayer from the Book of Blessings that incorporates these themes and asks God for protection of all athletes involved. Do you define winning by the scoreboard or by Christlike competition? Dear Lord God, Thank you for all the gifts you have given us. Never catch me rejoicing in the adversity of others. Want to see fewer ads on Aleteia? Let me run in the land of my dreams. "(Phil 3:13-15, NIV), "but those who hope in the Lord Athletes prayer for basketball match Almighty God, We praise your name, we lift you high with every move, each throw we make and with the celebration of every point we score. Practice Positive Self Talk. Being the best person you can be does not go without its setbacks. Read uplifting prayers for healing, strength and renewal! Athlete's Prayer God, let me play well but fairly. Lord, I call upon you to say to my daughter pick yourself up and run with the wind, faster than you have ever before. Help me heart fully feel your love and the life that you give. I desire to pour out my heart before You every day that I compete. Thank you for what you have done for me. You told me to run in such a way as to get the prize. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Help me to learn something that matters once the game is over. It includes the touchdown you scored and the time you got burned for a touchdown. I do it to get a crown that will last forever. May it give you ideas for your own prayer life and move you towards action. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Many times there may be even be opportunities for group prayer among Christians on your team. It includes gratitude for gold medals and if you gave up the winning goal. Crying out to God and lamenting in these moments is legitimate prayer. Amen. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. And most of all, help me to be a good example to other athletes. Thank God for at least one specific blessing that took place in the competition. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.- Matthew 6:9-13, I Thessalonians 5:17,18 tells us that part of walking with Jesus is to pray without ceasing.. An Athlete's Prayer Dear God, Today is game day and I place myself in your loving hands. Help me run with purpose in every step. An understanding mind that this competition is among friends. And God granted his request. A properly prepared team should not need to pray for a win. All of my abilities are from You, Jesus. Olympic athletes have a unique opportunity every four years to inspire the world with their physical strength, graceful movements and mental stamina. In light of that I offer these as a few examples of ways to pray: God help me today to honor you and all I do and say in this arena of sports (insert: field, court, mat, pool etc). Calm or minds so we can think clearly and play our best. Bless us with a team spirit Being disappointed and hurting because of the loss is not ungodlyit is quite human. Every time I compete, I stand for the cross. In Your name, I pray. I sweat for the One who made me. Let competition make me strong but never hostile. they will run and not grow weary, Whatever we accomplish in this competition, we offer all of these to you. That would stoop into superstition and silliness (Ive got my eye on you baseball players!). "(Philippians 3:13-15, TLB), "I can do all this through him who gives me strength. New subscribers receive the first chapter of my new book: The Christian Athlete (and other resources too). Why Does Modern Architecture Look So Bad? If you did terrible give your pain to him as well in prayer. Prayer before Tough Game Heavenly Father, you promised that you would not abandon me. Just remember you dont win or lose because of your lucky socks or your lucky prayers. And finally, we pray for your grace,that you would provide uswith the endurance to pursue our heavenly prize:eternal life in Your Son. Prayer for Goodwill Lord Jesus, we welcome your presence here among us andIn our community of (Insert School/League Name). We ask that all of those involved today/tonight may conduct themselves in a God-pleasing manner and show goodsportsmanship despite the outcome. The act of praying is a way for an athlete to think they can attain an edge, so they can compete better. Grant that we not take days like this for granted. Prayer of Thanks for Great Talent Lord, my Savior, it is you who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Amen. Develop in me a pure heart. There is no greater victory. Thank you for the opportunity to compete and bring out the best in each other. Therefore, when a Christian athlete prays before a competition he/she is praying to act up to their fullest potential. Keep us safe from injury and harm. Entrust your prayer intentions to our network of monasteries. Amen. The Prayer of Jabezan ancient prayer from the bible for protection, guidance and blessingJabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! The athlete pregame prayer should instead be about no turning back, I will . Give each one of us the courage to play the game in a manner, which by our wordsand our actions, is pleasing to you. They do it to get a crown that will not last. Prayer for Sportsmanship Conduct All-powerful Lord, help me to play the game with all my energy and strength. See me not when I am cheered, but when I bend to help my opponent up. Prayer for Help through Injury Dear God, thank you for giving me life and my athletic abilities. Help me to learn something that matters once the game is over. The narrative in your head before competition should be mindful and purposeful. Lord, we thank you for the gifts and abilities you have blessed these athletes with, and we pray that they may use them to glorify you. We ask that all of those involved today/tonight may conduct themselves in a God-pleasing manner and show good sportsmanship despite Please try again or contact website administrator. Allow the losers to learn that they are already winners because of their willingness to share their talents. These inspirational prayers and bible verses for athletes serve as the perfect source of inspiration to the types of things you can speak to the Lord about. If I know victory, allow me to be happy. Because I am among all athletes who have been most richly blessed: You see, I lost by inches, but I won by a mile." Anonymous Player Prayer God, let me play well but fairly. Let us enter into the competition in a spirit of sportsmanship will renew their strength. Amen. You train my hands for battle. You'll have to take the principle shared now and apply it to your own sports unique circumstances and game structures but it is applicable across all sports. Prayer for Athletes The Hail Mary is a prayer that has been used by Catholics for centuries. Let competition make me strong but never hostile. It is tough and I am not enjoying it. Prayer for Appreciation Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, for these two teams, for the chance to study, to understand the world around us a little better, for the health to be here, for the thrill of a sporting event and for individuals leaning to play as a team. Show her the way to give also strength of those girls around her so that she to can help them to achieve their goals. So what follows is both practical and provocative. Whatever happens today does not change that and I will come off the field as your child.