I'm a big Cardinals fan. Tonight they are the 2011 World Series Champions. Yesterday was a pins and needles game 6. Watching the game I found myself occasionally doing what my husband and I make fun of when we see it on a televised game. I clasped my hands and said, "Oh, God, PLEEEEEEEASE!"
It only took once for me to laugh at myself as well. Ultimately, though it makes me happy, who wins a World Series game doesn't affect eternity. So every time I clasped my hands last night, I decided to pray for things that DO matter to God. I'm hoping baseball players felt blessed last night because it seems like I found myself praying quite a bit!
I prayed for God to be glorified through the lives of the players. I prayed for their marriages to be strengthened and filled with love and harmony. I prayed that God would draw each of them unto Himself. I prayed that their hearts would be sensitive to the things of the Spirit. I prayed that they would have strength to avoid the sexual temptations that are nearly unavoidable, especially when playing on the road for long stretches. I prayed that they would look to God to be their strength. I prayed for the ones who are parents to have wisdom in parenting their children. I prayed for the ones who are single to find love and joy in the arms of God's best (not someone who wants money or fame).
I think you get it. Every time I had the urge to pray for my team to win, something that won't affect eternity, I instead prayed for the players and things that do affect eternity. I found my hands clasped and praying a lot last night. And to be 100% truthful, sometimes I was annoyed to not pray for a win!
Tonight I am thrilled to know my team is the World Champs. I don't think for a second that they won because of prayer. If they had then why didn't the Rangers win? Was no one in Texas praying for a World Series title? The game was fun. The series was phenomenal. I join plenty of people in celebrating the Cardinal's 11th championship.
But when the day was over, baseball doesn't affect eternity, but people do!
No comments:
Post a Comment