"God answers my prayers everywhere except on the golf-course."
Thankfulness
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7There is so much in these two verses. “Do not be anxious about anything” sounds simple but how hard it is in practice! There are so many things in sport about which to be anxious. There are things we can control and things we cannot. There is the possibility of injury, our form, not being selected, the quality of the opposition.
The antidote is prayer – in every situation. We can take our concerns to God and leave them there. Moreover ,we are to do it with thankfulness. When we realize how much we have to be thankful for, then we will find it easier not to be anxious.
If we do, God promises us peace, that peace which is beyond understanding and it is like a guard, placed around our heart. Powerful stuff.
The American sprinter, Allyson Felix, has commented on Philippians 4:6: “That verse always [encourages] my heart when I am dealing with any kind of pressure and throughout the struggles of life, my faith calms my heart. I try to stay in the [Bible] and I pray a lot. He provides my strength and wisdom”. [Allyson Felix, Beyond the Ultimate].
So what is it to be – worry or pray?