🏆 TO EVERY PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE: WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU
We Want You to Be Successful—We Just Don’t Want Success to Swallow You
Every day, somewhere in the world, professional athletes step onto a field, court, track, course, rink, or into a ring.
Millions watch.
Crowds cheer.
Cameras follow.
Statistics are recorded.
Contracts are negotiated.
Championships are pursued.
And from the outside looking in, it can appear that these men and women are living the dream.
Money.
Fame.
Influence.
Travel.
Endorsements.
Recognition.
The finest facilities.
The best trainers.
Access to things most people could never afford.
But at Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International, we see something else when we look at professional athletes.
WE SEE PEOPLE.
Men and women with families.
Fears.
Temptations.
Expectations.
Weaknesses.
Private struggles.
Spiritual needs.
And souls.
That is why we pray for professional athletes every day.
Not because we want you to score more points.
Not because we have money riding on the game.
Not because you're wearing our favorite team's uniform.
We pray because underneath the jersey, championship ring, statistics, fame, and multimillion-dollar contract—
THERE IS A HUMAN BEING.
And human beings need God.
WE WANT YOU TO SUCCEED
Let's establish that immediately.
We aren't against success.
We aren't against excellence.
We aren't against wealth honestly earned.
We aren't against a young athlete working for years and eventually receiving the rewards of that labor.
We celebrate discipline.
Hard work.
Perseverance.
Sacrifice.
Teamwork.
Leadership.
The ability to fall down and get back up.
Professional athletes often demonstrate these qualities at extraordinary levels.
So when you sign the contract—
Congratulations.
When you make the roster—
Congratulations.
When you break the record—
Congratulations.
When you win the championship—
Congratulations.
When your years of sacrifice finally pay off—
WE ARE HAPPY FOR YOU.
But our prayer doesn't stop there.
We don't merely pray:
“Lord, make them successful.”
We also pray:
“LORD, DON'T LET SUCCESS DESTROY THEM.”
SUCCESS CAN BECOME ITS OWN TEST
Failure tests people.
But so does success.
Sometimes success may be the harder examination.
When you're struggling, you know you need help.
When nobody knows your name, humility comes a little easier.
When money is tight, you understand limitations.
Then suddenly—
everybody knows you.
People want your autograph.
Your phone fills with messages.
Brands want your endorsement.
Your social-media following explodes.
People who once ignored you suddenly want access to you.
And money begins arriving in amounts you never imagined.
That's when another kind of test begins.
WHO ARE YOU WHEN YOU CAN AFFORD ALMOST ANYTHING YOU WANT?
Who are you when people are afraid to tell you no?
Who are you when everybody laughs at your jokes?
Who are you when strangers tell you how wonderful you are?
Who are you when temptation no longer has to search for you—
BECAUSE TEMPTATION NOW HAS YOUR PHONE NUMBER?
THE BIBLE WARNED US ABOUT RICHES
Paul wrote:
“For the love of money is the root of all evil...” — 1 Timothy 6:10
Notice carefully what Scripture does not say.
Money itself is not identified as the root of all evil.
The warning concerns the love of money.
Money is a tool.
It can feed a hungry family.
Build a school.
Support a church.
Fund missionary work.
Help parents.
Provide education.
Create jobs.
Build businesses.
Support charities.
Transform communities.
But money can also become a master.
And Jesus said plainly:
“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” — Matthew 6:24
The danger isn't simply possessing wealth.
THE DANGER IS WHEN WEALTH BEGINS POSSESSING YOU.
THE TRAP DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE A TRAP
That's why Scripture describes temptation so seriously.
A trap works best when the victim doesn't recognize it as one.
Success can bring opportunities.
It can also bring enticement, allurement, temptation, and ensnarement.
One more party.
One more drink.
One more relationship.
One more bet.
One more expensive purchase.
One more person telling you:
“Come on, everybody does it.”
One bad decision can become a habit.
A habit can become bondage.
And suddenly a person who appears to have everything discovers that everything isn't enough.
THE SCOREBOARD CANNOT TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE
Athletes spend much of their lives being measured.
Points.
Touchdowns.
Goals.
Batting averages.
Passing yards.
Rebounds.
Knockouts.
Wins.
Losses.
Rankings.
Records.
Medals.
Championships.
Contract value.
But none of those numbers can measure your worth before God.
You are more than your statistics.
More than your jersey number.
More than your draft position.
More than your contract.
More than your social-media following.
More than yesterday's victory.
And—
MORE THAN YESTERDAY'S FAILURE.
One day your playing career will end.
Every athlete eventually encounters that reality.
The crowds will cheer for somebody else.
Another player will wear the uniform.
Records will eventually be broken.
Then what?
If your entire identity was built around what you did, retirement can leave you wondering who you are.
Build something deeper now.
TAKE CARE OF THE PERSON INSIDE THE UNIFORM
Your body receives enormous attention because your profession demands it.
Trainers.
Doctors.
Nutrition.
Strength conditioning.
Recovery.
Sleep.
Rehabilitation.
But don't neglect your soul.
You can have a world-class body and a starving spirit.
You can be surrounded by teammates and still be lonely.
You can have millions of followers and nobody you trust enough to call at 2:00 in the morning.
You can own several houses and have nowhere that feels like home.
You can win a championship and still lose yourself.
Jesus asked:
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Mark 8:36
Professional athlete or not—
every human being eventually has to answer that question.
CHOOSE YOUR INNER CIRCLE CAREFULLY
Success attracts people.
Not everyone who arrives after the contract arrives because they love you.
Some love access.
Some love money.
Some love fame.
Some love what your name can do for theirs.
You need people around you who knew you before the spotlight—or people with enough character to treat you as though there were no spotlight.
Someone willing to say:
“You're wrong.”
Someone willing to ask:
“Are you okay?”
Someone who isn't impressed by your bank account.
Someone who will pray with you.
Someone who won't help you destroy yourself simply because they're enjoying the ride.
EVERY SUCCESSFUL PERSON NEEDS SOMEBODY WHO CANNOT BE BOUGHT BY THEIR SUCCESS.
REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY
Mom.
Dad.
Grandparents.
Spouse.
Children.
Brothers.
Sisters.
The coach who believed in you.
The teacher who encouraged you.
The neighbor who drove you to practice.
The people who helped when there wasn't a contract.
Don't become so famous that you forget the people who loved you when nobody knew your name.
Fame attracts crowds.
LOVE BUILDS FAMILY.
Know the difference.
YOUR PLATFORM IS BIGGER THAN SPORTS
Whether you asked for it or not, people watch you.
Children imitate you.
Young athletes wear your jersey.
They copy your celebrations.
Repeat your words.
Buy the shoes you endorse.
Follow your accounts.
And sometimes believe that because you are successful in sports, your opinions must also be valuable everywhere else.
That is tremendous influence.
Use it carefully.
Your platform can sell products.
But it can also encourage a struggling child.
Promote education.
Strengthen communities.
Help families.
Support worthy causes.
Speak against injustice.
Point people toward hope.
And yes—
GLORIFY GOD.
Your career gives you a microphone many pastors will never possess.
What will you say with it?
WE ARE ALSO PRAYING FOR THE ATHLETE WHO IS STRUGGLING
Not everyone is winning today.
Somebody was released.
Somebody was traded.
Somebody tore an ACL.
Somebody didn't make the roster.
Somebody's performance is declining.
Somebody is reading cruel comments online.
Somebody knows retirement is approaching.
Somebody lost the championship.
Somebody is dealing with anxiety privately while appearing confident publicly.
Somebody's marriage is struggling.
Somebody is battling addiction.
Somebody has money problems despite having earned millions.
Somebody feels alone.
And somebody may be asking:
“Who am I if I can't play anymore?”
We are praying for you too.
Your worst game doesn't define you.
Your injury doesn't define you.
Your mistake doesn't define you.
Your career doesn't define you.
GOD SEES THE PERSON THE CROWD CANNOT SEE.
AND WE PRAY FOR YOUR SALVATION
Ultimately, this is why Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International prays for athletes.
Championships matter for a season.
Eternity matters forever.
We want you healthy.
Successful.
Financially secure.
Wise.
Protected.
Surrounded by good people.
But above all—
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST.
Not merely wear a cross.
Not simply thank God during an interview.
Not quote a Bible verse on social media.
Know Him.
Love Him.
Follow Him.
Let Him become Lord when the stadium is full—
and when the lights are turned off.
IF GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH MUCH, ASK WHY
Perhaps your success isn't merely about you.
Maybe God allowed resources to enter your hands because somebody else's answer is sitting inside your generosity.
You can help build.
Educate.
Feed.
Sponsor.
Send.
Encourage.
Lift.
Restore.
You can use temporary wealth to produce consequences that outlive you.
The question becomes:
“LORD, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE PLACED IN MY HANDS?”
That's a prayer worth praying.
TO EVERY PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE—THIS IS OUR MESSAGE
Play hard.
Train hard.
Compete.
Pursue excellence.
Enjoy the journey.
Take care of your body.
Protect your family.
Save your money.
Invest wisely.
Choose your friends carefully.
Stay humble.
Remember where you came from.
Help somebody who cannot help you back.
And when the applause becomes deafening—
LISTEN EVEN MORE CAREFULLY FOR THE VOICE OF GOD.
We want you to succeed.
We really do.
But we don't want your success to become the very thing that destroys you.
Win the championship.
Break the record.
Sign the contract.
Build the legacy.
But above everything else—
DON'T WIN THE WORLD AND LOSE YOUR SOUL.
🙏 OUR DAILY PRAYER FOR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
Heavenly Father, today we lift before You professional athletes across every sport and every nation. Protect their bodies, minds, families, finances, reputations, and souls. Give them wisdom to recognize temptation before it becomes bondage. Surround them with people who love them more than their money, fame, or influence. Give them humility in victory, strength in defeat, wisdom in wealth, and identity beyond their sport. For the injured, bring healing. For the struggling, bring encouragement. For those nearing retirement, give direction for the next chapter. And for those who do not know Jesus Christ, place someone in their path who will lovingly and clearly share the Gospel with them. May their success never become their master, and may everything You place in their hands ultimately be used for good and for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Professional athletes everywhere: Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International is praying for you—every day.
Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International
Your Feet to the Nations
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