Why do many athletes pray to God to win a Superbowl or whatever? Do they really think God has a favorite team? Isn't the other team praying the exact opposite thing?

This post was edited by Voyaging on Jan 9 2012 05:24am

Maybe because they think if they pray more than the other ones, God will make them win.

This is just faith, how absurd it can be (I'm not judging here), it IS just.

The bible instructs us to do everything for the glory of God, and that would include sports. While they may be praying for a win, by acknowledging God, they are in essence therefore trying to play for the glory of God.

This isn't to say it's right or wrong, who knows.

This is a response I gave on a friend's status on Facebook in regards to God's hand in helping Tebow:

God works in mysterious ways. In this media and idolatry driven culture, it wouldn't surprise me that God is using this mode through an utterly humble man to reach out to the public. For Rachel to say that this makes God seem "small" (later on in the comments) is just as wrong as saying that God only works in "big" ways. Without Tebow's success and the attention that comes from it, his foundation to build a children's hospital in the Philippines would not be happening.

What are your thoughts on this verse:

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

When I am pitching for school or whatnot, I always have a sense of god in the background, I am a humble guy/etc, but I don't really show it, our baseball coaches wont let us wear "Crosses/etc" or they have to be tucked in, which I agree, playing at such a low level (College) and showing off your cross is kinda weird. But that's not even fair to say that people that play in the higher level (MLB/etc) having a cross is weird, because some of them represent them wrong, Who am I to judge? But they are some MLB Players that wear the cross, but don't act like you think they would. I am being pretty biased atm, but it's how I feel




When you turn a christian (I am) you lay yourself onto god and you live with him in your heart.. If I win something or feel a sense of accomplish, I will thank god, it's just normal because us Christians love and Cherish him, so why not? Also what's wrong with it? People praise other idols like TV/INTERNET/girls/other HUMAN ROLE Models/etc, but you think us Christians praising god is a concern to you? Sounds fishy imo. But for real, it's because we love and have him in our heart in whatever we do, it's like a feeling you wont get until you let him in your life, which I urge you to do so, god bless, If you have any questions pm me

Because people are stupid and will pray for pretty much everything.

True story

@Krypto, that is not true, why come here and bash other people's belief man ? The guy is praising Jesus while he is watched by millions/etc, he is spreading the word of god tremendously and I think it's great imo, if you got nothing nice to say man don't say anything at all, this subforum is for christians man

What some non-christians don't understand is that is that, to expand on njaguar's post, we were creating for one sole purpose and that is to glorify God. It isn't to glorify ourselves, or anyone else, only Him. Praying for a win is a request, not a demand. If God chooses to aid you in that win, then you glorify him. If he chooses not to, then you glorify him as well. One thing you have to understand about christianity is that it isn't about how much you do this, or how little do you do that, it's about how much of your life is given to God, HUMBLY. We try to emulate jesus in that he gave his entire life to God. That's the goal, not winning a game.

So you say winning a game is only to glorify God and 0% to glorify themselves (players), you say you guys (Christians) only live for Him God ?
I'm not convinced, sorry.
And I think it's unhealthy (google translation for "malsain", from French). I don't understand it and why, but I respect, I respect.

Maybe they pray to compete with good health, and not get hurt