Wolrd Cup Prayers
Image: Microsoft 365 Copilot
The football World Cup is under way, or should I say it’s ‘kicked off’! Things have changed for this global tournament:
The list of teams has grown from 32 to 48, with Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan making their World Cup debuts.
104 matches (up from 64) will be played over the next five weeks, going on into the small hours of the morning here in the UK.
There is not one host nation but three: Canada, Mexico, and the United States – whose teams automatically qualified.
Millions of people will be following the event, cheering on their nation. However I will not be one of them, as I have never been a football fan.
Football has been described as a kind of religion, with fans ‘worshipping’ the players and ‘praying’ for a win!
I think many people pray for all sorts of reasons! But it got me thinking about why and how we should pray?
Over the years, I have seen that people pray because they believe (or want to believe) in something better and beyond our natural world.
When Jesus was alive and was asked to teach people to pray, this is what he said…
“Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
This, the Lord’s Prayer, has been preached and written about for many years. I have read books on it, taught it in church, and more importantly used it as a prayer guide/template for over 30 years.
Jesus echoed part of this prayer, before his horrific crucifixion, he prayed to Father God, ‘not my will but yours be done’ (Luke 22:42).
In other words, Jesus surrendered what he wanted, to Father God’s will, to see God’s Kingdom come. That’s a powerful prayer!
I wonder how many football fans will pray that way whilst watching their team play?
Beyond football, who’s will do we pray for to be done, ours or God’s?
God bless you:)
Gary Bastin
Hope Community Church leader