33“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:33-34  

Although this passage is calling us to trust in God to provide for our basic needs (food, drink, and clothing), I believe it also has truth we can apply to our athletic endeavors. Too many times we focus on the future, the outcome, and the decisions we cannot control. We worry about what might, could, or should happen rather than the present moment. The writer of Matthew roots this worry in our priorities.

What would happen if you put seeking Jesus above getting better in your sport? What if you prioritized spending time with Him over spending time in the weight room? As athletes, including myself back in the day, we have a hard time with this. We put our sport first in our life and then wonder why we are filled with fear and anxiety, especially when it comes to a game or our future with the sport. Obviously, I am not saying you shouldn’t work hard and invest in your sport, but I am repeating the words above: seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.

The truth is your sport, even if you achieve all the success and glory it offers, will never satisfy you. Unlike God, our sport has limitations and its promises of the good life never come to fulfillment. On the contrary, when we seek God first and trust Him, we find our lives are full of peace, satisfaction, and purpose regardless of what we are doing. Ultimately, we must never forget that the One who is calling us to seek him first is the same One who created and blessed us with the talents, gifts and opportunities we have.

  • What (or who) comes first in your life? 
  • Ask Jesus to be first in your life and to help you seek his righteousness. 
  • Thank God for the talent, gifts and opportunities you have.

Pre-Game Playlist: