9 Prayers For Football Players
Whether you are a player, coach, or supportive parent, use these prayers for football players to ask for God’s protection, strength, and wisdom on the field.
When we look around our world, we constantly see arenas that illustrate spiritual truths. Football and sports have the potential to teach us something about biblical truths, ourselves as well as God, himself.
As you approach the football field (or bleachers) remember to ask the Lord to illuminate Himself through the experience.
Whether you are a player, coach, or supportive parent, use these Prayers for Football Players as a way to ask for God’s protection, strength, & wisdom on the field.
9 Prayers For Football Players
1. Short Prayer For Football Players
…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. – Hebrews 12:1-2
Throughout scripture, God has used all kinds of metaphors to teach us about Himself. Vines, gardening, cleaning house, and running a race are a few examples. One of the Spiritual principles we learn from sports is that God values a work ethic and teamwork.
We learn that throwing off distractions on the field to focus on the game objective illustrates the life of the Christian. Focusing, listening, practicing, taking action steps, and following the directions of the “Coach” resonate with us because something within us knows that this is symbolic of something much greater than just a game.
Lord God,
I pray for this fine group of mighty men that You have created for Your glory and for Your purposes. I pray that we will approach this game with integrity and godly sportsmanship.
Be with each of these young men, and bless them on and off the field. We thank you for the health you have given us to engage in the sport we love.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
2. A Prayer To Use Football To Glorify God
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
As children of God, all that we do should demonstrate godly character. This means that even in fierce competition, that passion for the game would still reflect a heart sold out in honoring God and others.
Almighty God,
Lord, we approach this field tonight knowing that the breath in our lungs is from you, the power in our muscles is your creation, and our work ethic was first your value before it was ours.
Tonight God, use football to glorify Yourself. May You be glorified in our skill, in our sportsmanship, in our words, and in our attitudes.
Help us receive the lessons you have for us on the field today. For anything you have for us, we are ready to respond with a mighty, “Yes, Sir.”
In Jesus’ strong Name,
Amen.
3. A Prayer For Protection On The Field
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. – 2 Samuel 22:32-33
A common concern on the football field is safety. For all of our efforts to consider the health and safety of our players, let us not forget to cover them in prayer.
Father in Heaven,
I pray for each player on the field tonight, Lord. We pray for protection from harm or injury. Help them remember their training and for safety tonight for both teams.
Give them sharp minds and strong bodies. We ask for protection for every soul on the field tonight, and we ask for your blessing over the players and this game that we respect so much.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
4. A Prayer For Wisdom In Your Plays & Decisions
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5
The practice hours that precede the average football game are innumerable. Players spend their lives practicing drills, footwork, and plays. It is for this reason that a player’s wisdom and decisions on the field hold a very high value not only to the outcome of the game, but also to the merit of so many hard earned practice hours.
Faithful God,
I pray that You would bless the efforts of these fine young men who have faithfully trained for this game. The hours spent in practice up until this point are innumerable. We’ve given our hard work, our energies and our training to the acclaim of this game, and now will you help us to remember all that we have practiced.
Will you give us wisdom in our plays and decisions on this field tonight, and then Lord, help us to take that same judiciousness off the field as well. Lord, use this game to develop in us grit and confidence, but not without humility and synergy amongst our team. Our minds and bodies are Yours, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
5. A Prayer For Managing Your Anger & Frustration On The Field
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. – Proverbs 29:11
Few places hold the passion, enthusiasm, and preparation that a football field holds. With all the countless hours of preparation, dedication, and work ethic that precedes a game, is it any wonder that it could be so difficult to manage anger and frustration on the field?
God cares about our character whether we are playing a competitive game, or ministering in a Sunday School class. The character of Christ should always, (please Jesus!) show in every facet of the Christian’s life.
Oh Lord,
We come before You tonight with both strength and vulnerability. Strength, because we acknowledge you have given us the muscle, power, and locomotion to play with great might. Vulnerability, because we know Lord, after all our efforts that our restraint, self-control, and mood are all shatterable.
Lord, help us manage anger and frustration on the field. Let us never lose sight of our ultimate priority in life: honoring You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
6. A Prayer For Good Sportsmanship
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. – Romans 14:19
The intensity of a sports game is a fun and benign thing. A football player has so many opportunities for character growth and maturity out on the field pushing himself for excellence amongst his peers. Sometimes, however, a good competitive drive can take too much precedence and cause a player to forget his goal of sportsmanship.
It’s in these places that we remember to ask The Lord for the grace to keep a “good thing” from becoming a “God thing.” Let’s pray for appropriate competitive drive, and balanced good sportsmanship.
Almighty God,
We come before You now, eager to get on the field and play our hearts out. Before we go, Lord, we desire to stop and reflect for a moment on the privilege it is to play this game amongst quality competition. We love it, Lord!
Gracious Lord, let us go out with the character that reflects that of Your Son. Let us play well, with respect and integrity, and good sportsmanship. What good is it to us if we go out with eagerness to win and forego our hearts before you and our fellow man? Instead, Lord, give us the grace to demonstrate excellent sportsmanship.
For Your sake and for Your glory we ask,
Amen.
7. A Prayer For A Football Coach To Pray For His Team
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. – Colossians 3:23
We know that in the Kingdom of God all that we do matters. The way we conduct ourselves at practice, at games and the like are all places to walk closely with God. Coach, let’s pray for your team, and ask for the Lord’s blessing.
Our God and our Heavenly Father,
Let this game be used by the Spirit to teach us about life and You, and let us not lose sight of Your Kingdom as we fully engage in this awaited competition. We are yours, Lord and we thank You for the delight of the game, as well as all the life lessons these practices have taught us.
Go with us out there, Lord, and bless our team as well as that of our respected opponents.
For Your Name and Your Glory, Jesus,
Amen.
8. A Prayer For A Parent To Pray Over Their Son
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his Name together. – Psalm 34:3
What a precious gift children are. In a game like football, safety is never far from a parent’s mind. Let’s ask the Lord for safety for our young men on the field, as well as an open heart to learn and grow from the discipline that sports provide. Our good God loves our children, let’s invite Him into everything.
Oh, Lord,
I come before you with my greatest treasure—my son, Lord. You have been so good to me, and I praise You for the life of this young man. Lord, You have placed in him what it takes to be a mighty man of God, and I pray that He would take that character onto the field tonight unwaveringly.
We know that You care for every piece of my son’s life, so we invite You to teach him and grace him tonight in this game. Keep him safe from harm, and his mind sharp.
Thank You, Lord, for my son.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
9. A Prayer For Humility
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. – Proverbs 11:2
Oh, the challenge of demonstrating humility on the field! Humility is truly counter to our normal human desires. Yet we know that the mark of maturity in a player is not only skill and coordination on the field but also dignified humility.
Let’s ask the Lord today for the grace to demonstrate both: our A-game AND humility.
Lord God,
You have so much to teach us out on this field. Just like anywhere else we go, You are always with us. Lord, help us step out of our own selves and our own heads and play and think like a team. No man plays alone on this field tonight, Lord.
We are a team and will look to one another to synergize and work together. Let us respect what each player brings to the team, and have eyes to see our need for one another. Let this awareness bring about humility in our hearts as we play with all our might.
It is an honor to play in this game, and it is an honor to be on this team. We thank You for all of it and pray that You will find us faithful in our reverence and humility before You.
In the mighty Name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen.
More Prayers For Athletes:
13 Athletes’ Prayers For Sports Events & Games
5 Prayers for Physical Strength
