Prayer for the Week 3 August 2024
Read 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27
More than Gold
I am sure like me you have been glued to the TV or a screen over the last week enjoying the coverage from the Paris Olympics, absolutely in awe of the athletes and their skills. You will have your favourite sports or athletes you like to follow, for me it’s the Equestrian competitions. A sport which hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons prior to the start of the games; but we all fall short don’t we?
Can we begin to imagine the hours and years of training, often beginning in childhood, that the athletes have put into their chosen sport? The sacrifices made to become an Olympian, the best in their field representing their country. For a few the opportunity has come more than once, perhaps on up to three occasions, competing at Olympic standard for over twelve years! How do they stay focused, and have such determination, endurance, courage, fitness and continue to hone their skills?
Thinking of the games brought me to our text for this week taken from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. In Paul’s letters we can find many illustrations where he uses sporting or competition to relate to the Gospel Message. I thought it would be interesting and enlightening for us to consider some of the attributes of a successful athlete and a committed Christian as we continue to enjoy the second week of the games in Paris.
Will we look to our Life Coach, Jesus, to help us keep focused through prayer, to have discipline, perseverance, endurance, courage, to deepen our faith and hone our Biblical knowledge for the fight, our individual race, as we press on forward to reach the goal and victory, finishing strong! As to our victory, Jesus is Gold. Jesus is Victory. He is the Glory the ultimate prize, the unfading garland.
Please use as your prayer for the week this song written by Andrew Pratt in 2004, found on StF+
© Stainer & Bell
Christ ran this race before us
The witnesses are watching,
more athletes join the race.
We cover ground before us,
we run within God’s grace.
We persevere with patience,
we lay aside each load
that holding or constraining,
might slow us on the road.
Christ ran this race before us
and in his steps we tread.
His faith is our example,
we follow where he led.
Our passion is Olympian,
our strength has come from God;
like every saint before us
we take the route Christ trod.
Throughout our lives we’ll follow,
we never will regret
the faithfulness and fervour,
the pattern he has set.
No shame could make him falter,
we’ll follow to the end
the one who died at Easter
our risen, living friend.
Tune : Aurelia (H&P 515) Andrew Pratt (2004)
© Stainer & Bell
Debs Coggrave – Trustee for Darlington, Newcastle & Cumbria
