How to Pray for Your Athlete

How To Pray for Your Athlete- Holding your kids up in prayer in an absolute must for Christian parents, whether they are athletes or not. With so many dangers in the world, we can’t slack on this. It can be difficult to cover all bases though, use this guideline to pray for your kids, your friends, and even your enemies!

While I can write a list a mile long of all the benefits that sports can offer kids, I can likely write another equally as long citing concerns.  In all things there are good and bad, plusses and minuses.  It’s part of life, and being the parent of a young athlete holds no exceptions. I spend a lot of time praying for my family, I’m willing to bet if you’re a Christian mom, you do too. But do you know how to pray for your athlete?

If you know me, you may have caught me staring off into space in the past.  I like to scope out my environment, call me cray, but when it comes to my kiddos sports, I pay attention to the details. No, I am not the one always on time with the perfectly pressed uniform and squeaky clean cleats (do those moms still exist?). But I like to keep an ear and eye on what the boys are doing. What do they talk about when the adults are out of range? What are they in to? Are they checking out the cheerleaders (ack-so not ready for that)?

My prayer time is usually in the car on my way to work. Frankly, that’s the only quiet time I get most days, so I take full advantage! I am blessed with a short commute (woo-hoo), which means I don’t have tons of time to lay out all my requests, and I have lots, especially when it comes to the athletes I’m raising.  I often worry that I may forget something, or that I am asking for the wrong thing so I came up with a formula to guide me. Actually, Jesus came up with it on the sermon on the mount. It’s what we know as the Lord’s prayer and it’s what I use as the layout for my daily prayers for my kids, and more.

The Lord’s prayer isn’t necessarily meant to be recited verbatim, although it certainly can be.  Jesus introduced it as an example, a blueprint if you will, on how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13). If you’re having trouble remembering what to pray for in the moment, or just don’t know what to pray for, follow this format:

How to Pray for Your Athlete

Let the Lord’s Prayer be your guide:

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven: 

Start with praise, worship, and gratitude. He is in control and we are anxious for His return.

Give us this day our daily bread:

Ask Him to bless your kids with everything they require in this life. May He meet their spiritual and physical needs, pray for abundance for your household to be able to provide well for your children.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors:

Pray for peace in your child’s heart, and the ability to rise above bad situations. Ask for them to not harbor any ill feelings towards anyone, and to keep their hearts pure.

Lead us not into temptation:

This is a biggie. If you have a high schooler this may be more relevant to you! Honestly kids at any age are tempted, so ask the Lord to help them stand up for what is right, and keep away from ungodly plans.

I take this one very seriously! I ask the Lord to keep them away from all of the worldly temptations that can pull them away from a relationship with Jesus, examples are lying, cheating, stealing, foul language. This goes for my 9-year-old as much as my 15-year-old!  And yes, I am very specific about praying for them to not be tempted by lust. What? Yup. Not that I am against a romantic relationship at a proper age, but I know many athletes have been lead astray from their sports or their relationship with God by giving in to this one. So for this I pray, and I pray hard! I pray that they remain focused on Him, on our family, on school, and yes on their sports! Go into detail, ask God to keep them from whatever temptations your kids may be prone to now or in the future, and then trust that He is on it.

But deliver us from evil:

Our athletes face danger everyday. Whether it’s the risk of injuries. illnesses, or ill-wills, they are targets. Let us pray for the Lord to keep them safe physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Let them not have any long term effects in any of those capacities as they practice the sports they love. This is also a chance to pray for their attitudes! Lord, help them keep a positive and godly demeanor as they compete in their athletics! Let them be respectful to their coaches, and kind to their teammates.

Once you have reached the end of the Lord’s Prayer, add whatever you want. There can be no end to praying for our kids, I can probably spend hours doing so. Make these as long or as short as you want to. As long as you are covering your athletes in prayer, you will be blessed, and so will they!

Blessings to your and your athletes!