He’s Praying For You

You’ve heard it said that the strongest teams aren’t always the most talented—they’re the ones that play for each other. They show up early, stay late, and put in the work. Why? Because they care about their teammates. Now imagine your Coach—your perfect, all-knowing, all-loving Coach—on His knees in the locker room before the biggest game ever… and He’s not praying for His own strength. He’s praying for you.

That’s exactly what Jesus did. “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.”John 17:9

1. Jesus Prayed for His Team—Before the Game Ever Started
Jesus’ ministry began and ended in prayer. Luke 3:21 tells us that Jesus was praying as He was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended on Him. And at the very end, in Luke 23:46, He offered up one final prayer on the cross: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

He didn’t begin with power or end with pain—He began and ended with prayer.

Athletes, think of it this way: a game isn’t won on the field—it’s won in preparation. In the film room. In the weight room. On your knees.

If Jesus—the Son of God—depended on prayer before stepping into His mission, shouldn’t we do the same?

Let me ask you: How often do you pray before your practices, games, decisions, or relationships?

2. Jesus Prayed for Specific People
Jesus wasn’t just praying for the whole world in general—He was specifically interceding for His disciples. “I pray for them,” He said.

These were men He had walked with, taught, corrected, and loved. They weren’t perfect. They were inconsistent, prideful at times, and even doubted. But He chose them, invested in them, and prayed for them.

John 17:6: “They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”

John 17:24: “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am…”

Jesus saw His disciples as gifts from the Father. He valued them. He believed in them. He prayed for them.

Think about a captain before a championship game. He knows his team’s strengths and weaknesses. He’s not just hyped up for the win—he’s thinking about each player. That cornerback who’s been struggling with confidence. The freshman who needs encouragement. The lineman who plays through injury. A great leader prays for his people—not just for a result.

Do you see your teammates as gifts from God? Are you praying for them?

3. Prayer Comes Before the Roster
Luke 6:12–13 says: “Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them…”

Before Jesus built His team, He prayed.

Before you build a strategy, a friendship, a relationship, or a mission--pray.

When Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days, He wasn’t just fasting and being tempted. He was preparing. He was likely praying over who the Father would lead Him to invest in (John 1:35–43). When Andrew and John came to Him, it was no accident. When He called Peter, Philip, and Nathanael, it was by design.

Proverbs 3:6: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

Do you want to lead on your team? Start with prayer. Don’t just train harder—pray deeper.

Ask God:
    •    Who do You want me to encourage today?
    •    Who needs a kind word?
    •    Who’s struggling and hiding it?

4. Prayer Gives Direction When the Crowd Says Otherwise
In Mark 1:35–38, after a long day of healing and ministering, Jesus woke up early to pray. When the disciples finally found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you!” It would have been easy for Jesus to ride the momentum and stay.

But because He had prayed, He said, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Jesus didn’t let popularity decide His purpose--prayer did.

Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you’ll be able to test and approve what God’s will is…”

You know… It’s easy to get caught up in the noise—the fans, the stats, the rankings. But prayer clears your vision. It reminds you why you’re playing and who you’re playing for.

Are you more concerned with being known, or being faithful?

5. Jesus Is Still Praying for You
Here’s the good news: Jesus’ prayers didn’t end in the Garden. Hebrews 7:25 says: “He always lives to intercede for them.”

Romans 8:34 confirms: “Christ Jesus… is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

That means in your struggles, failures, and victories—Jesus is still praying for you. You’re not forgotten. You’re not alone.

Maybe you’re here and you’ve been trying to “earn your spot on the team” with God. You’re hustling, but you’re hurting. Let me remind you: Jesus already chose you.

He died for you while you were still in sin (Romans 5:8). He sees your heart, not just your highlight reel. He calls you not because of your performance, but because of His love.

You don’t have to carry your guilt or prove your worth. Jesus already took care of that on the cross. Will you respond to that love today?

I want to challenge you with this:
    •    Will you be a teammate who prays like Jesus?
    •    Will you commit to praying before you act, not just after?
    •    Will you ask God to show you who to invest in?

Max Lucado once said: “Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it… it makes a difference.”

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Thank You that You are a Savior who prays. Thank You for praying for us—before we knew You, and even now as we follow You. Teach us to pray like You. Help us to see our teammates as gifts. Give us eyes to see who You’re calling us to invest in. Keep us humble, grounded, and Spirit-led. May we play, live, and lead with prayer as our foundation. In Your powerful name, Amen.
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Remember, this… The strongest players don’t just train hard—they pray hard. Live like Jesus. Pray like Jesus.

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