This blog from the Cripplegate seems very appropriate for sports. Here are some excerpts:
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. …”
– Matthew 6:9 –
Everything we ask for in prayer and everything we do in our lives is to be asked for and done so that God would be glorified—so that the beauty of His manifold perfections would be magnified for all to see. The glory of God should not only drive us to pray; it should also shape all that we pray for.
This is the highest request we could ever attain to make of God, for it is this which is His own most foundational and most ultimate commitment. He Himself has stated that He does all He does with a chief regard for the glory of His own name.
- Isaiah 42:8 – I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another.
- Isaiah 43:7 – Everyone…whom I have created for My glory.
- Isaiah 43:25 – I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake.
- Isaiah 48:11 – For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; for how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.
- Ezekiel 36:22-23 – It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.…I will vindicate the holiness of My great name.
- Ephesians 1:11-12 – …according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
In light of this, perhaps a good prayer before your next game/competition (whether it be as a player, coach, or spectator) could go something like this:
Lord, I pray your name will be made great today and not mine. I pray the way I play/coach/spectate today, and the posture of my heart, would bring you glory. Would you help my motives today not be based on pride or a misplaced search for significance. I pray your name would be made known today by my play/coaching/spectating.
