Article June 19, 2017 Issue

Prayerful preparations: in sports and life

Mark Swinney

In interviews, reporters ask athletes about a number of things, but these inquiries don’t always include pregame mental preparation. That aspect, though, is actually a leading factor in sports—and all kinds of other endeavors, too. Time and time again, the world has been inspired by examples of how effective preparation can bring out excellence beyond what simple athleticism might help us achieve.

Does that mean that before practices and games we are just to sit there alone with our thoughts? Yes and no—there is a good kind of being alone and a bad, or limiting, kind.

The bad kind is to see ourselves as doing everything on our own, just using human will. It may appear courageous to attempt to triumph alone, on one’s own merits, but in the long run, trying to will ourselves into success doesn’t take us as far as we can go; and in fact, it can definitely stand in the way of success. It’s the desire to glorify God, to acknowledge Him as the infinite source of strength and ability, that invites true success.

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