My answer is that it’s a great idea for Christian athletes to pray to win—as long as they keep in mind what winning really means.
When we talk about winning, we usually mean coming in first. We see winners as those wind up in first place and walk away with a gold medal. We even view the one who came in second place as the “first loser.”
While this kind of winning is exciting, it’s not enduring. Today’s winners are soon forgotten. Do you remember who won the gold medal in speed skating or the giant slalom in the last winter Olympics? After their moment on the podium, most winners fade from view. When winning is defined as coming in first, it doesn’t last.
But there is a kind of victory that endures. There is a kind of winning worth praying about. Here are three ways Christian athletes can pray to win.
First, they can pray to win in giving their best effort. 1 Corinthians 9:25 observes that “everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” It’s a personal victory when an athlete gives his or her best effort in both practice and competition.
Second, they can pray to win against the temptation to cheat. 2 Timothy 2:5 reminds us that “if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.” It’s a moral victory to play fair.
Finally, they can pray to win in bringing glory to Christ. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” So shooting a puck or skiing a hill can be done with a desire to bring honour to Jesus’ name. Christian athletes can compete with a passion to please Jesus and to bring Him praise. That’s a spiritual victory. Winning is not ultimately about coming in first; it’s about putting Christ first. When athletes have this attitude, they simply can’t lose
This article is adapted from an article Rick wrote for the Ottawa Citizen.
You can download a free copy of Rick’s eBook, That’s a Good Question here. This eBook gives succinct answers to twenty-five spiritual questions. Questions like: How Do We Know God Exists? Do You Need Faith in God to be Happy? Why Would a Loving God Allow So Much Suffering? What Does the Christian Faith Teach about Ecology? This eBook is one you can share with friends and family members who are asking spiritual questions.
Rick and Linda Reed 