“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
But as Christians, we also know that having a positive attitude is not enough. We need to have a grateful heart. So, how do we have a grateful heart as Christian athletes and coaches? Well, it may seem simple, but to truly shift our mindset, we must first recognize that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God. Next, we need to list everything we’re thankful for. You can get a journal or a piece of paper and write your own list, or you can use the following as a guide:
Gratitude List:
- Thank God for His grace, His mercy, His love and the opportunity to even play the game—whether that’s surfing the waves, playing on the field, or shooting hoops. Every game is an opportunity for Christ to be glorified through our talent as well as our attitude.
- Thank Him for the gift of salvation. The Gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through His Son Jesus Christ. We are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23, 6:23). But God, in His grace and mercy, sent His Son to die for our sins and rise again from the dead, defeating sin and death on our behalf (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He offers us forgiveness and eternal life as a free gift, if we repent of our sins and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior (John 3:16, Acts 16:31).
- We need to remember to thank Him for the gift of sports. Sports are a wonderful way to enjoy God’s creation, to exercise our bodies, to develop our skills, and to express our personalities. Sports are also a great opportunity to glorify God, to serve others, and to share the gospel. Sports are a platform that God has given us to play for eternity.
How We Play:
Here at Eternity Sports, our goal in this ministry is to connect and grow churches and Christian athletes and coaches who want to use their sport to play for eternity. We’re a ministry that inspires, educates, and equips those who desire to integrate their faith, sport, and glorify God in their game. It is a ministry that helps remember to play with a grateful heart.
As we play for eternity, we play with a grateful heart. We play with joy, prayer, and thanksgiving. We play with humility, generosity, and compassion. We play with worship, service, and evangelism.
Why We Play:
We play not to earn God’s favor, but to express our gratitude. We play not to impress others, but to bless others. We play not to exalt ourselves, but to exalt Christ.
He is the reason we play, so we must remember that in our everyday lives. Jesus is the source of our joy. He is the object of our praise.
He is worthy of our gratitude, our devotion, and our game ultimately with the hearts as we Play for Eternity.
