6 Bible Verses Coaches Can Pray Over Their Players
God, help them to run fast and free.
I was standing behind the boys cross-country team that I coach as they were doing their final strides in preparation for our first race of the season. As they sprinted out one last time, I prayed that they would run free—free from feeling like they needed to prove themselves to anyone on the course that day. I also prayed that they would run fast! Beyond that, my mind went blank. Should I pray for their safety? That would probably be good. But what else?
Maybe you find yourself in a similar spot of wondering what to pray for your athletes. What follows is as much for me as hopefully it is for you.
I’m convinced that the best template for praying for our athletes is the Word of God. Of course, this doesn’t mean praying Scripture is the only way we can pray. But if you are anything like me, I rarely utilize the gift of God’s Word as a prayer over my players. This should be obvious, but it also does not mean sitting your athletes in a circle with your hands outstretched and praying Scripture over them. I mean, it can, but depending on your context, you might be better served praying in the quietness of your own heart.
Andy Naselli, an assistant professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Bethlehem College says this about praying using God’s Word: “Since Scripture is entirely truthful, you should pray confidently when you pray Scripture. It’s safe, secure, firm ground. You don’t need to wonder, ‘Is this a good thing or a bad thing to pray?’ Scripture expresses God’s will, God’s character, and God’s promises.”
Below is a list of verses I have committed to praying over my team. Will you join me in praying these verses over your team too?
Pray for their salvation
What: “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16
Why: Praying for our team’s salvation recalibrates our own hearts for why we do what we do. Yes, we want our team to win championships. Yes, we want our players to reach their goals and maximize their potential under our influence. But there is a reason Solomon chased after and grabbed hold of all this earth had to offer in Ecclesiastes and concluded that everything was meaningless. There are better things than earthly success, than athletic success. The best thing that could ever happen to our athletes is coming into a relationship with Jesus.
And depending on the context we coach in, there may be limits on what we can share verbally with them about God. But that doesn’t mean we can’t plead to Him on their behalf!
How: Father, I know that you care about these players more than I do. You loved them so much that you gave your one and only son for them. And you say that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Father, help them to believe in you.
Pray for their (spiritual) safety
What: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” - Ephesians 6:10-17
Why: Every day before our kids walk out to the bus, they say the same prayer as we stand over them. “Helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, sword of the Spirit, shield of faith, belt of truth, sandals of the Gospel.” We have them pray that out loud for two reasons. First, it’s a reminder that there is a spiritual battle taking place every day. While we don’t want to live as if that is the only reality, we want to at least acknowledge its importance. Secondly, we want to be prepared for whatever the day holds. And we do that by “armoring up!”
Hopefully, we are already praying for our team’s physical safety. But God’s word shows us that another battle wages against us every day in the spiritual realm. You can pray spiritual equipment on them, whether they are aware of you doing it or not!
How: Father, you say that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. I pray for protection for my players from the enemy’s schemes. Thank you for giving us armor to fight against these battles. God, I pray on to these athletes the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, and the sandals of the Gospel. Equip them for the practice/game, for your glory.
Pray to know them beyond the physical
What: “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” - Proverbs 20:5
Why: Sport is life with the volume turned up. This means you have a front-row seat to see your players experience the highest of highs and lowest of lows. And you can be the person of insight who draws them out. This is a prayer asking God to help us see beyond what’s physically in front of us and give us insight into what is going on in our players’ hearts. Not so we can manipulate them to play better but to meet them where they really are and help them move forward. This is a prayer that recognizes there is so much going on in our athletes’ lives that we have no idea about, but we at least care enough to peek behind the curtain if God gives us an opportunity.
How: Father, the purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters. I know this is true of the players on my team. There is so much going on in their lives that I don’t know about. I want to coach them, but I also want to care for them where they are at. Would you help me to be a person of insight who draws them out? Give me your eyes to see and your ears to hear. And give me the grace to respond to them in ways that are appropriate, loving, and kind.
Pray for them to trust God
What: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28
Why: We like to believe that sports are an outlet for God to bless us. And He probably does! But we would be wise to remember that He is more concerned transforming us into His likeness than with winning a championship or our personal achievement. Again, those don’t always need to be at odds with one another. But this is a prayer that recognizes that God may use injuries, losses, poor performances, benchings, transfer portals, and the like, for our athletes’ good—as He defines it. This prayer is a plea to God, on their behalf, that they would trust in Him through whatever sport throws at them.
How: Father, thank you for the amazing truth that you work all things for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose. Whatever happens today, for those athletes on my team who have surrendered their lives to you, I know you are working for their good. I confess that I have a stake in this too and want what’s good for them to align with what’s good for me! I trust you. Help them to do the same, because you are worthy of it.
Pray for their motivation
What: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” - 1 Corinthians 10:31
Why: In a perfect world, our motivations would be pure and our desire for everything we do would be as if we are doing it for God and His glory. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. Our motivations are jacked up. Our athletes will perform for the attention and affection of others—oftentimes they will be motivated to please us. And while we can (and should) lament this, we can also pray for the kind of motivation God desires for them. That’s the reason we intercede on their behalf using this verse. We want them to play with an Audience of One mindset, which should bring freedom and joy.
How: Father, we read in 1 Corinthians that whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, to do it all for your glory. Would you help the players on my team to play today for your glory and not their own? Would you give them a mindset to play for you, and not anybody else. Calibrate their heart to focus on you and give an optimal effort from knowing that you already fully love and accept them apart from their performance today.
Pray for their decision-making
What: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” - Philippians 1:9-10
Why: Our athletes are around us for a few hours each day. Our desire for them to make good and wise decisions should extend beyond the playing field and ripple across every other aspect of their lives. Wise decision-making best positions us to lead flourishing lives. Yes, we want our athletes to make good choices. But we also wanted those choices to be rooted in a growing understanding of God. This is a prayer for God to intervene, with His love, and help them discern what is best—not just what they want in the moment.
How: Father, I ask that your love would abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight in my players’ lives so that they can discern what is best and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Help them, Holy Spirit, by convicting them and reminding them.
10 more Scriptures to pray over your athletes depending on the situation:
Praying for them to know God’s will - Psalm 25:4,5
Praying for trust - Proverbs 3:5-6
Praying for them to hear God’s voice - John 10:27,28
Praying for them honor others - Romans 10:12
Praying for them to not conform to the world - Romans 12:2
Praying for their identity - Ephesians 2:10
Praying for wise living - Ephesians 5:15-18
Praying for humility - Philippians 2:2-5
Praying against anxiety - Philippians 4:6,7
Praying for strength - Colossians 1:11,12
