Is It a Sin... To Pray To Win?

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

The world around us today seems to thrive on competition--there seem to contests, competitions, and tournaments for just about every activity one can think of (and why does it seem that most of them are televised to boot?)

I myself am not big on competition because only the winner seems to "count"--and everyone else gets lost in the shuffle. However, over the years, I've known friends and family who have competed in a myriad of various competitions for everything from painting miniatures, cooking, and crafting to music, sports, and triathlons.

Recently, a good Christian friend expressed that she felt it was a bit selfish to pray that her team would win a competition, and that instead, it seemed better to pray that everyone would do their best.

This really got me thinking--in our highly competitive world, is it a sin--to pray to win?

For example, what do you suggest praying for:

* Your children or younger family members (nieces, nephews, etc.) when they participate in team sports games or group competitions (such as band, etc.)?

* Yourself or a friend/family member who is participating in a sport and/orentering an individual competition (i.e, should you pray that Aunt Edith will finally win that prestigious chili cook-off)?

* And, this may be the most personal question of all--what do you pray for your favorite college/professional teams? Do you believe God is rooting for, or wills a certain team to win? Do you pray that your favorite team will win that Super Sports Fiesta competition? (In the recent Olympics, did anyone pray that their country's teams would win?)

If God had someone in mind that He wants to win an event or competition (and I don't think this is completely unBiblical, seeing as Esther "won" a heathen beauty pageant, as well as the attention of the king), how would He choose, especially if the members of both teams (and/or their fans) are Christians?

I often wondered this as a kid because I grew up in a Christian school that competed against other Christian schools. If "everyone" on all the teams and their parents were all Christians, how would God "choose" a winner if they were all praying to win?

I realize there probably aren't any "right" or "wrong" answers here (aside from cases of selfish intention, which seems like it would definitely be a sin), but I thought it would be interesting to hear what people think.

I'm posting this in Singles because this is my primary hideout (and because many singles keep themselves busy by attending such events), but anyone who stops by is welcome to make that winning post!

 

[NotmebutHim]

I think the important thing to remember that when you pray to God, be honest with Him with regard to how you'd like a circumstance or situation to turn out. All the while praying that things be done according to His will, and realizing that the result(s) might not be what you want.

God knows our hearts and if we ask that something be done according to His will but not telling Him what we would like to happen, then the lines of communication are not fully open on our end.

 

[Bella37]

If our lives are surrendered to The LORD 100%, then why would GOD be concerned about winning, or losing?....The world cares, but GOD owns everything, & knows everything that will happen in all our lives before it even happens. If winning something will bring GLORY to GOD then HE already knows who is going to win, & for what Spiritual Victory. All I believe we need to do is have Faith & pray, YOUR Will Be Done ABBA Father, then surrender to HIM & just give it to HIM, no matter what the cost. JESUS did not want to go to the cross. HE sweat tears of BLOOD that's how frightened HE was to do HIS Fathers will. Yet HE still went with the Soldiers to HIS most unimaginable Pain & Torture, which led JESUS to being, VICTORIOUS & conquering the Devil, & death for us!!
I hope I haven't taken your joy away from competing in an activity, that's not my intention, we all need things to do.
But, when it comes to what GOD would bless, or not bless, I personally do not believe that what we see as winning a certain prestigious award, as something that GOD would even want to make happen through prayer, I believe GOD to be much more concerned with saving souls from going to Hell! Praying for safety, & HIS blood covering over competitors, may be a better prayer for someone competing in a dangerous sport. Thank you for reading my opinion, GOD BLESS!

The LORDS will be done always, for HIS GLORY, because HE loves us! Amen & Amen!! <><<

Love & Hugs!
Bella xo <><<

 

[AuntieAnt]

Yikes.... The LORD knows this subject is my Achilles' heel. I am ridiculously competitive and am not a good loser. And it’s exactly what the LORD uses over & over again to bring me to my knees and deliver me from my attempts to control my own life. I take losing very personally, whether it’s my own efforts in life or a sports team I’m rooting & praying for. It’s truly absurd how competitive I am, but the LORD miraculously uses it as a precious opportunity to break me down and make me more like Him and less like my carnal me. Losing is literally gain for me spiritually. It stings like hellfire for the moment, but then sweet victory over my flesh! Praise GOD, I’m learning to surrender quicker, gaining keener listening ears, and seeing the LORD more clearly. I loooooove that sweet reward! ❤❤❤

Is it a sin to pray to win? The Bible says run fearlessly to GOD and take everything to Him in prayer. It also says believe Him with all your heart for the answer according to His perfect will.

 

[seoulsearch]

Nmbh, Bella, and AA -- thank you so much for your replies <3.

I appreciate the reminder that it's important to be honest with God, even if we aren't having the most godly thoughts at the time!

I admit that my biggest challenge is always trying to pray that God's will would be done, especially when I have a friend who, let's say, is entering an art competition and I happen to be a little biased that his or her work is a lot better than all the other entries!

Auntie Aunt, thank you for the honesty in your post--it made me laugh out loud, because I have a family member who says that competition is the very reason for living (and I don't think he's entirely joking)--forgive me for saying that I would love to see the two of you take each other on! I would definitely have to pray God's will over that one because I'm not sure if either one of you would survive, lol.

Thank you all for answering so honestly and I hope people will continue to share their thoughts.

 

[Lynx]

I don't know... Isn't Sports supposed to be fun? It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. If you play to win or lose, I think you are playing it wrong. =^•^=

Ask for cooking, arts, craft and all that kind of competition, if your entry is not in fact the best and you pray to win, would you feel guilty if you did win knowing that yours was not really the best?

 

[Lynx]

Mind you, this is just my thoughts on the matter. I'm not going to preach from the pulpit that it's a sin to pray that your team wins.

 

[Tinuviel]

For example, what do you suggest praying for:

* Your children or younger family members (nieces, nephews, etc.) when they participate in team sports games or group competitions (such as band, etc.)?

* Yourself or a friend/family member who is participating in a sport and/or entering an individual competition (i.e, should you pray that Aunt Edith will finally win that prestigious chili cook-off)?

Not being an ultra competitive person, I have always prayed that I/they do the best possible, to the glory of God. I can't force God to give me/them a win by praying for it anyway, and as much as it means to myself or the family member/friend/whatever, God knows all, and it might mean even MORE to someone else.

* What do you pray for your favorite college/professional teams? Do you believe God is rooting for, or wills a certain team to win? Do you pray that your favorite team will win that Super Sports Fiesta competition? (In the recent Olympics, did anyone pray that their country's teams would win?)

God is in control of everything--including a sports win. So yes, you could say He wills it. I don't really do a lot of sports. I DO watch several Olympic sports with great enjoyment. Normally, I'm not moved to pray during such times...I think this year was a first. After witnessing Shaun White's failure on the half-pipe in the last Olympics, seeing footage of the horrible fall he took back in October, (resulting in 62 stitches on his face/head and in his mouth), and watching the crazy tight competition THIS year, I think during his last run I blurted for the whole room to hear: "Oh dear God, please don't let him get hurt!" But winning? No, I didn't mention it. But do I think it's wrong? Nah, probably not. If it's not wrong to be rooting for it, it's not wrong to pray for it. Just my $0.02

 

[Lynx]

I should mention that if I am making a batch of sourdough bread and it happens to be for a church bake sale, I will in fact pray that God help it turn out well. But it's not for a competition, it's for a fundraiser. I also pray God will help out the really large batch of sourdough bread I make every year to give to people at Christmas. And I am not one bit ashamed of that... I want it to turn out well so people will be pleased with it, and in the case of a bake sale so they will buy a lot.

 

[AuntieAnt]

Perhaps I should explain that the games I play are online games (mathmatic, strategic, & word games) against the computer, not against other folks. LOL!! I'm not cut-throat like that to other people.

Plus, I'm always challenging myself to exercise harder, walk longer distances, do more weight training reps, run faster, do more time on the eliptical, etc. I push myself to the max all the time and don't give myself a break. Also, when watching sports on a screen, I get hyped up and feel like I'm the one winning or losing. It's just bizarre. Even my daughter-in-law has to tell me sometimes, "Mama, just relax!"

When I play games or sports withother people, I'm not like that at all. I always laugh and have lots of fun when playing with family or friends. I'm usually in hysterics when we play cards or board games. Winning isn't a big deal at all then. I can have fun.

It's the challenges I make for myself that keep breaking me down, because after all, I'm not the Bionic Woman. I guess it's because of the way we were treated after my father passed. My step father put such strenuous hardships on my siblings and me that we continually broke down and then he'd punish us for it. It was day after day torture. He repented after my kids were born and I forgave him. He's with God now.

But I have to keep dying to my flesh every time I lose at those online games. It's a good exercise because God always reminds me He's in control of my life all the time. I ain't perfect, but God's plans for me are. And I truly am learning to laugh at myself and am starting to enjoy the games more & more.

 

[Tommy379]

I sure do pray for the Green Bay Packers......... I guess I'm a sinner.

 

[zeroturbulence]

Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again...

[video=youtube;V63keg78pQQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V63keg78pQQ[/video]

 

[Lynx]

Now, now, we haven't yet decided whether it even IS a sin...

What do you do if they lose? According to some people's theology if you didn't get what you prayed for then you (always!) didn't have enough faith. Or do you just assume you were pulling a James 4:3 and asking amiss? Or do you count it as the other team's fans were praying harder?

 

[AuntieAnt]

I sure do pray for the Green Bay Packers......... I guess I'm a sinner.

I'll say! You should be praying for the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

[Snflwrgrl]

When I was in the 6th grade I was on the school baseball team. I prayed and prayed as hard as I could the night before the championship game that we would win. Not only did we win but I was the one who caught the fly ball that won the game exactly when the end of recess bell went off. LOL I have never forgotten that moment and I am way older than 12 years old now. I believe God used that experience for me as a child to increase my faith. Since God cares about the smallest details of our lives, I think it is perfectly fine to ask him for the desires of our hearts. Of course everyone can’t always win but I believe God works everything out for the good of those who are called according to His purpose. When I haven’t won in life God has used those times for my personal growth and to teach me other lessons which have proved to be even more valueable. God doesn’t give us everything we want but everything we need.

Hey Everyone,

The world around us today seems to thrive on competition--there seem to contests, competitions, and tournaments for just about every activity one can think of (and why does it seem that most of them are televised to boot?)

I myself am not big on competition because only the winner seems to "count"--and everyone else gets lost in the shuffle. However, over the years, I've known friends and family who have competed in a myriad of various competitions for everything from painting miniatures, cooking, and crafting to music, sports, and triathlons.

Recently, a good Christian friend expressed that she felt it was a bit selfish to pray that her team would win a competition, and that instead, it seemed better to pray that everyone would do their best.

This really got me thinking--in our highly competitive world, is it a sin--to pray to win?

For example, what do you suggest praying for:

* Your children or younger family members (nieces, nephews, etc.) when they participate in team sports games or group competitions (such as band, etc.)?

* Yourself or a friend/family member who is participating in a sport and/orentering an individual competition (i.e, should you pray that Aunt Edith will finally win that prestigious chili cook-off)?

* And, this may be the most personal question of all--what do you pray for your favorite college/professional teams? Do you believe God is rooting for, or wills a certain team to win? Do you pray that your favorite team will win that Super Sports Fiesta competition? (In the recent Olympics, did anyone pray that their country's teams would win?)

If God had someone in mind that He wants to win an event or competition (and I don't think this is completely unBiblical, seeing as Esther "won" a heathen beauty pageant, as well as the attention of the king), how would He choose, especially if the members of both teams (and/or their fans) are Christians?

I often wondered this as a kid because I grew up in a Christian school that competed against other Christian schools. If "everyone" on all the teams and their parents were all Christians, how would God "choose" a winner if they were all praying to win?

I realize there probably aren't any "right" or "wrong" answers here (aside from cases of selfish intention, which seems like it would definitely be a sin), but I thought it would be interesting to hear what people think.

I'm posting this in Singles because this is my primary hideout (and because many singles keep themselves busy by attending such events), but anyone who stops by is welcome to make that winning post!

 

[Desdichado]

It isn't expressly forbidden. The Bible has a bunch of sports and war metaphors.

It all depends what you're asking, how you're asking it, and whether you're giving due deference to His sovereignty.

 

[Lynx]

Snflwrgrl... Can I buy a vowel?

Sorry, just teasing. Ignore me, I'm a nerd.

Anyway I can believe that. God is not a god of parlor tricks for people's amusement, nor does God give a sign to everybody who says "Prove you exist!" but God will do things to help your faith. Our pastor and wife have a little four year old boy who is almost disturbingly intelligent. His mother started praying that God would give the boy something, some kind of sign, a proof that God was really there.

A few days later the family was going to meet the boy's grandparents at a restaurant, but it was raining cats and dogs. The boy stood on the porch staring at the rain, then he said, "God could you stop this rain so we can go eat?!" Thirty seconds later there wasn't a drop falling.

Of course some people would pull a Pharisee and quote the verse about a wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign. I would counter with Gideon, who not only asked a sign, but when he got the sign he asked for he asked AGAIN, for a sign exactly opposite the first sign, just to make sure.

 

[Jennie-Mae]

I’m not into football, but if Alabama is playing against Auburn, well...lol...maybe a prayer or two could get things right.

 

[tourist]

I sure do pray for the Green Bay Packers......... I guess I'm a sinner.

I pray for the Detroit Lions. Yeah, we're both sinners heading for hell. I would love for Detroit to win a Super Bowl before I go though.

 

[Jennie-Mae]

I pray for the Detroit Lions. Yeah, we're both sinners heading for hell. I would love for Detroit to win a Super Bowl before I go though.

Looks like you’ll get to become America’s oldest man some 60 years from now lol.