Sports Devotional 1/28/2001
Updated Feb 01, 2002
January 28
From the Game Plan
Read Matthew 6:5-13
Summary of Matthew 6:5-13: Jesus gives some pointers on prayer. First, he says, don't pray to be heard and seen by others. Second, find a quiet place where you can pray in private. Third, when you pray, don't just mouth a bunch of impressive words -- God already knows what you need. Instead, Jesus says, pray by this pattern: the pattern of what we often call The Lord's Prayer.
Point of Emphasis
The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. Psalm 145:18
Imagine having parents who make more than a million bucks a year. One pro football player I know took home more than $1.5 million in one season. If you were that man's son, you could ask for anything you wanted, and he could give it to you.
But he wouldn't.
You see, this player is a Christian, and he wants to be wise. If his son says, Dad, I want a motorized car to ride around in, the player can't say, I can't afford it. He and his son both know he can. But he does place restrictions and guidelines on the requests his children make. He and his wife have to decide, based on the good of the child and the good of their family, which requests to grant and why.
It's a little like that with God and our requests. As the Master of the universe, He has everything at His disposal. Like a millionaire football player, He can't say, I can't afford it. Yet He does put certain restrictions on our asking --for our own good. Look at some of them:
1. You may have to be persistent (Luke 11:5-13).
2. You have to ask in faith, without doubting (James 1:6).
3. You have to ask for the right reasons (James 4:2-3).
4. You have to be living righteously (James 5:16).
5. You have to be willing to accept any answer (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
6. You are to pray with thankfulness (Philippians 4:6).
Prayer is not like ordering from a catalog. Prayer is talking to God one-to-one -- conversing with Him as you would a loving and caring father.
Sometimes you tell Dad how much you appreciate him. Sometimes you tell him your troubles. Sometimes you ask for advice. And sometimes you ask him for second semester tuition or some money for a down payment. But each time you ask, you use ground rules that your relationship with him requires.
That's why it's important to read what Jesus said about prayer in Matthew 6 and to read the other prayer guidelines noted above. That why we'll know how to pray the right way.
When you pray in the way God has designed, it doesn't hurt to ask. -- Dave Branon
Upon Further ReviewIn the past week, what specific things have I talked to God about? Were my prayers mostly taken up with requests, praise, thanksgiving, or others' needs? Are my prayers unbalanced? Of the guidelines above, which do I need to incorporate more often into my praying and living? If we have freedom in Christ, why do we also have to have guildelines that seem restrictive? How can I use the guidelines in this article in my ctivities during the next week?
Action PointResource: Jesus' Blueprint for Prayer
Athlete of the Day
The athlete referred to above is no longer making $1.5 million a year. Now he's earning his keep as a publisher with a successful Christian publishing house. His name doesn't matter, but what is important is that he has made the transition from playing pro football to working in the every-day world. That's not an easy shift for many athletes. It's a tough life to follow, and one reason is the greatly reduced income.
Prayer Strategy
For yourself: Just as the disciples did, ask, Lord, teach me to pray. Start today to improve your prayer life, and you'll discover a closer relationship with God.
For retired athletes: Pray that they can make that shift and that their families will stay together. There is a high rate of divorce among former athletes. Pray for their stability.
Originally published January 04, 2001.
