“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Praise: “Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:3-5) Thank God for every one involved with your team including coaches and players, the school system or franchise, the media and the fans and for the opportunity the team has to play football.
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19) Pray that God would send His Holy Spirit into the spiritual hearts to reveal Christ to everyone connected to the team. Pray that they be truly born again and live in the fullness and the abundant life promised in Christ.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (James 1:5-8) Ask the Lord to give wisdom to all those in authority over the team. Pray that the coaches make decisions that are good for the whole team. Pray for their decisions no only during the game, but in everything that affects the team including practice, plays, media releases, players and fans
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4) Pray that each player will use his conditioning and playing time, his talents and his lifestyle in a way that is good for all the team members. Pray that players, coaches, and fans will avoid everything that feeds only self-interest, do nothing out of selfish ambition and consider others better than themselves.
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:10) Pray that Christian football coaches and players will see the moral failures of non-Christians as opportunities to point the broken hearted to Christ and the ways of God.
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.” (Proverbs 1:10) “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) Pray that the players who have good character not be influenced by those who have wrong motives and live in ways that are sinful or harmful in any way.
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1) Pray that the team members will not become in bondage to drugs, alcohol and other addictions that would cause them harm or keep them from proper conditioning, playing or following rules and regulations laid before them by those who have authority over them.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) Pray that the Christian players will grow in their trials and show faith in God. Pray that they persevere and allow the Lord to mature them and complete His work in and through them. May their faith cause other players to look to Christ as they face similar trials.
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2) Pray that the players will understand that the positions they play are given out of trust. Pray that they understand that they are expected to prove faithful in conditioning, preparation and execution of their positions.
The call to pray is from God’s Word and we are given a sure promise, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b) Have assurance that the Lord God has heard and will answer your prayers.
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