For many players in the fast-paced and high-energy world of hockey, finding moments of spiritual connection can be a challenge. But prayer is essential for hockey players (and of course everyone too), helping them find strength, guidance, and peace both on and off the ice. Sometimes people can wrongly think that Christian athletes treat prayer like a good luck charm or as way to try and get God to choose sides, but that's not what prayer is about...

Let's explore the significant role of prayer in hockey and how it can impact the lives of athletes.

1. Finding Peace Amidst Pressure: Hockey games can be intense, with high stakes and mounting pressure. In times of stress, prayer can provide a profound sense of peace. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, "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." Through prayer, hockey players can find calmness and focus, even in the midst of the game's intensity.

2. Surrendering Control to God: In the heat of competition, it's easy to become fixated on winning and lose sight of the bigger picture. Prayer allows us to surrender our desire for control to God, trusting in His plan. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." By seeking God's guidance through prayer, we can place our trust in His divine wisdom in the wins and in the losses.

3. Putting others first:  Philippians 2:3-4 tells us the importance of thinking of and praying for others, even our opponents: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Pray for everyone's safety and health, not only our own and though it's a competitive sport, praying for our opponents will give us a healthy perspective about what's most important.                                                                                                                                              
4. Gratitude and Humility in Victory and Defeat: Whether celebrating victory or facing defeat, prayer fosters an attitude of gratitude and humility. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages us, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." We can use prayer to express thankfulness for our talents, opportunities, and teammates, cultivating a spirit of humility in both triumph and disappointment.

Of course, the most important part of prayer is maintaining and nurturing our relationship with Christ and opening your heart to God each day. If your looking for a place to start incorporating more prayer into your life, try building it into your routine before games or practice and go from there...One thing is for sure, the more you pray and feel God's presence in your life, the better off you'll be in all ways.