Ready:
"Pray constantly."
-1 Thessalonians 5:17
Set:
As he led the Colts down the field for the game-winning touchdown against their rivals, the New England Patriots, and a spot in the Super Bowl, Peyton Manning had a little one-on-one time with God. "I said a little prayer there on that last drive," Manning admitted after the Colts scored with just one minute remaining. "I don't know if you're supposed to pray or not in those kinds of situations, but I did."
Paul's message to the Thessalonians was that there is never a bad time to pray. Just for the record, I don't think it was wrong for Peyton Manning to pray during the biggest drive of the biggest game of his career. I believe it is appropriate to pray in those kinds of situations for strength, wisdom and composure--maybe not to help you win, but to help you compete at your best.
I encourage you to realize that anytime is a good time to pray provided that our motives are right. Let's not to pray to impress others (Matthew 6:5-6) or to impress God (Matthew 6:7), but to grow deeper in our relationship with Him.
Go:
1. Have you ever prayed during competition? If so, what did you pray for?
2. When is it most difficult for you to pray? Why?
3. What do you think leads to impure motives in prayer? How are your motives today?
Workout:
Matthew 6:5-13
Philippians 4:6-7
James 4:3
