I Prayed for You

I have many memorable moments from my coaching days. I recall a pregame meeting that actually involved no talk about the upcoming game. Usually we reviewed assignments and our first series of plays, but in this particular meeting I took another direction. I told the players how I had been praying for them. I prayed for their safety on the field and that they would do well in the classroom. Most importantly, I prayed that if they were uncertain about their salvation that God would send them to me or some other Christian who would show them how to have a personal relationship with God.

That day, though, I told my team we weren’t going to review strategies. I said, “I know many of you have never had a man you respected—a father, grandfather or uncle—stand before you and tell you he prays for you. But I want you to know that this morning when I woke up I got out the team roster and went down the list, name by name, praying for each of you.”

As I led that meeting, it occurred to me again, as it has so many times before, the incredible influence coaches have and the great privilege we’ve been given to share Christ. That day we went out and played well, although we lost the game. The numbers on the scoreboard were not in our favor, but the day was won for Christ.

Jesus told Peter that He prayed for him, as He does for us. He knew the difficulties that lay ahead for Peter once His work on the cross was finished. The Bible tells us that Christ is at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. As coaches, we’re invited to do the same for our teams.