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Photo: Enigma Sports

"I jump into a sand pit for a living"

Jonathan Edwards, World record triple-jumper

Prayer with thanksgiving

I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3

One of God’s greatest gifts to us is other people. We are created as relational people. We are fulfilled when we are with people. This is the essence of marriage, the deepest of human relationships. “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). What a privilege to spend 37* years with someone for whom you thank God every time you remember them! (If you are not used to reading cricket scores 37* means 37 not out!)

There are so many people that we can thank God for. I am reading Simon Barnes’s Sporting heroes. I have my own sporting heroes and I am thankful for them. I am thankful to have seen George Best in his pomp or Viv Richards in imperious form – to have been in the stadium as Usain Bolt announced himself with his first Olympic and World Record. I can thank God for the amazing experience of being able to celebrate the quality of creation – for me every bit as real as a view of the Alps.

There have been so many people who have contributed to my Christian life at so many stages – those who opened their homes to me as a teenager, those who taught me the Bible, those whose lifestyle challenged and encouraged me, those who believed in me and gave me opportunities to serve. I thank my God for every remembrance of them.

I was privileged to be a journalist at the Beijing Olympics. I remember three Olympians – one who won gold, one who won silver having set her heart on gold and one whose body simply would not respond on the day. I thank my God for every remembrance of the three of them and how they responded in a God-honouring way.

Think about who the people are for whom you thank God, every time you remember them. Here are some suggestions:

The person who led you to faith;
The person who discipled you;
People who encouraged you in the faith;
The person who introduced you to sport;
Your first coach;
Your present coach;
An unsung administrator who makes your club work;
The person who texted you before a big competition.

Take a moment to thank God for people who are important in your life.

Then think about how you can be a person for whom others will thank God.

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