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In a recent survey, 20% of Americans said they are putting a wager on Super Bowl LVII. Researchers are estimating bets by over 50 million people for a total of $16 billion. This is an all-time high, up more than 60% over last year. To say that America is personally “invested” in this game would be an understatement.
In situations like this, I’m often asked a question along these lines: “Pastor, is it OK for me to pray for my team to win the big game?” Even those who aren’t normally very religious may be wondering the same thing this weekend. If you have money riding on this game, suddenly the theology of prayer seems much more relevant to your life!
So, can we pray to the Almighty about the outcome of a game? The short answer is yes. You can pray for your team to win the Super Bowl, and I will explain why.
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But first I need to offer a few caveats. Prayer is not a magic formula. It doesn’t guarantee your team a win. (Trust me, I live in Dallas and our prayers have not been answered for decades!) Prayer, by its nature, is humbly asking God for something. We never tell Him what to do. Nor does He promise to automatically give us whatever we ask. God is a good Father. He is not a holy vending machine.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts has been open about his faith. Here, he looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
With that said, the reason you can ask for your team to win is because we can pray about anything that is in our hearts. The Bible tells us not to be anxious but “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 ESV). Prayer is not a performance before God in which we pretend to be someone else. It’s an honest conversation with God. Author C.S. Lewis put it this way,…
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