2 Feb, 2007
Peyton Manning prayed during the AFC Championship game.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning prays on the bench during the New England Patriots final drive in the AFC Championship games Sunday Jan. 22, 2007 in Indianapolis. "I said a little prayer on that last drive," Manning said. "I don't know if you're supposed to pray for stuff like that, but I said a little prayer." The Colts defeated the Patriots 38-34 and will play the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI on Sunday, Feb. 4 in Miami.
photo & text courtesy sports.yahoo.com, 01/24/07
Super Bowl prayers?
Matthew 21:21-22
21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (ESV)
In today's God's Story scripture, what is Jesus teaching His disciples (and us) about the connection between faith and prayer?
These verses are some of the most misunderstood and abused scriptures among religious people and even followers of Jesus. Some people mistakenly try to use these words of Jesus as some sort of "magic" formula for trying to get whatever they want in life. Sadly, they think that the moving of "mountains" in life depends on a person not having doubts rather than on the perfect plan and power of our loving, wise God, who is completely able to do anything.
Jesus' words don't guarantee that we can get anything we want. God would never answer our prayers in ways that would hurt anyone or go against His will. When we are focused on pleasing God through obedience, then our prayers will more likely match what He wants for our lives and He will answer them. Because God is completely able, we can pray with complete faith.
So was it ok for Peyton to pray during those final minutes of that big game? Of course! I don't know what he prayed, but if he prayed for strength and courage - great! If he prayed that the Patriots would all fall and break their necks - sorry, God doesn't work this way!
The outcome of the Super Bowl doesn't depend on who doubts and who has faith and who prays the most. (It's more about who plays the best). If you're wondering what God does with both Bears' fans and Colts' fans praying for victory, don't worry...He can handle it....He can move mountains if He wants to!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Praise God for being all-powerful and unconditional in His love for you. Ask His Spirit to teach you to pray with faith, knowing that He cares for you, that He never changes and that He is completely able in all things. Whatever "mountain" you are facing in life right now, give it to God with confidence. Ask His Spirit to help you obey Him and trust Him and learn to walk with Him over the "mountain" when He doesn't move it.
- Write out your prayers in a journal every day for 2 weeks. At the end, evaluate if you were praying with submission, with your heart, with thankfulness, with humility, with worship, and with faith?
- Whatever your "mountain" is at school, work, at home, with your health, your future, in your relationships......give it to God every day in faith.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- If you're watching the Super Bowl this Sunday, ask your friends and family what they think God thinks if both teams and their fans are praying for victory? Have some fun with this and you may learn a lot more about their stories.
- Encourage someone who is in a difficult situation by letting them know you're praying for them.
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