READ: MATTHEW 6:9-10; ROMANS 8:26-39; EPHESIANS 6:18-20

Have you ever prayed for a win? Maybe you asked God for a home run or a goal or for a certain player to make a three-point shot. If you play a sport, you’ve probably prayed for yourself to make that shot. Many of us ask God to intervene in sports, and then we’re often disappointed if He doesn’t seem to answer.

The truth is, Jesus cares about us and wants us to talk to Him about everything, including games we hope to win, and the disappointment we feel when we lose. But that doesn’t mean He’ll always answer our prayers the way we want Him to.

Sometimes our prayers can be selfish, can’t they? Sometimes when we pray, we put the focus on ourselves and what we want, instead of God’s plan to do what’s best and help more people come to Jesus.

When we focus only on what we want, our prayers can become small and self-centered. But when we think about what God wants, our prayers become bigger. We can pray for more people to know His love and be transformed by the gospel. We can pray for God’s justice, mercy, and goodness to flood the whole earth. We can pray for our spiritual growth, and for the spiritual growth of other Christians we know and love. These are things we know God wants to do.

Of course, we can still ask for a win. But as we pray, we can submit to God and trust Him to help us do whatever He wants us to—even if that includes being a good sport when we lose. We can pray for God’s will to be done and that we’ll remember to show His kindness and love to the people around us, no matter how the game turns out. • A. W. Smith

• Have you ever prayed for God’s will to be done while playing or watching sports? What was that like?

• God cares about more than just who scores and who wins. He wants us to invite Him into everything that matters to us, including sports, humbly offering ourselves for His glory and His purpose. What might it look like to share His goodness through our words and actions while we play or watch sports?

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 (NIV)

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-11; 11:23-33

My favorite football team made it through one game in the NFL playoffs, and then they lost. It was a heartbreaking loss because I knew they easily could have won the game. The disappointment I felt was instant, and it hung over me as time moved on. I can only imagine the disappointment felt by the players and their families.

God is there in our disappointments, and He is working in everything that goes on in our lives. Some might say God doesn’t care about a sport or a specific game, but I believe He does care about people and their lives—and the way each game turns out definitely has an effect on people, especially those who are part of the team. A quarterback can experience real hurt when his team loses—and God cares about that. A linebacker might feel they have failed after their team doesn’t make it—God cares about that too.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Paul describes how God comforts us in our troubles. Then later in this same letter, Paul recounts the many ways he has suffered—how often he has been in grave danger and endured tremendous pain from flogging, hunger, and nakedness, and how he has been “exposed to death again and again” (2 Corinthians 11:23-33). Yet, in spite of all this, Paul says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). While Paul’s afflictions were certainly far greater than losing a football game, the truths he shares about God’s comfort can still apply to every disappointment we experience.

When we have something happen in our lives that leaves us feeling disappointed, no matter how big or small it is, we can turn to God and know that He is there. He notices our hurts, and He wants to comfort us. He wants to remind us of His love, even in the midst of the pain. Remember, Jesus died and rose again so we could be brought near to God. So, in every loss, we can know that He is there for us. We never have to go through anything alone. From a lost game to a lost relationship to a lost family member, God sees the unique situation you are going through. And He is there, ready to listen as you share your pain with Him. • Emily Acker

• It can be hard to believe that God cares about all the big and small things we go through, but He does! What is one of the disappointments you’ve faced in your life recently? Consider taking some time to talk to God about what happened and how you feel, and receive His comfort.

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Psalm 119:76 (NIV)

READ: JONAH 1:1-17; 2:1-10; 3:1-3; LUKE 15:11-32

Like Jonah I’ve been running away

even though I hear God’s call

above the crashing waves

Still I’m sinking in my sin

deeper than I’ve ever been

shackled by the weight

of my regrets and mistakes

Three days spent searching for relief

So many doubts as I cry out

“God, do you really love me?”

I hear Him above the noise

A still and silent voice

If you take My hand

I’ll lead you to dry land

Even when my flesh is weak

and I run toward all the wrong things

He is still holding on

My breath when all air is gone

Like Jonah I finally get it

Our God is the King of second chances • Kara Krulick

• In the book of Jonah, God called Jonah to go to the city of Ninevah and warn them of God’s coming judgment if they did not turn away from their wickedness and fall on God’s mercy. But instead of going to Ninevah, Jonah ran away from God. In what ways have you been like Jonah? Is there anything you think God might be calling you to that you have been running away from?

• Sometimes, it can be hard to believe that God’s love is unconditional, and He will forgive us no matter how far we’ve run from Him. But God sent a storm, then provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah so he didn’t drown, and after three days God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land. Then God gave Jonah a second chance to go to Ninevah, and he did. In a similar way, God the Father sent Jesus, God the Son, to save us. Jesus tells us that Jonah’s story points to His story (Matthew 12:38-41). When we were stubbornly running away from God, Jesus went to the grave we were destined for, but after three days He was raised from the dead. So now everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is rescued from sin and death. As Christians, we are free to follow Jesus. And even though we will continue to mess up until Jesus returns and makes all things new, He keeps giving us forgiveness and second chances. Can you think of some ways God has given you second chances? (You can find more about the good news of Jesus on our "Know Jesus" page.)

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 (NIV)