We come before the Lord with heavy and hopeful hearts, lifting up ### and ### to the throne of grace. Father, we thank You for these young men, fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image. We ask that You would indeed order their steps in the way they should go, just as Your Word promises in Proverbs 20:24, "A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?" Lord, we trust that You have a perfect plan for their lives, even when the path is unclear to us.
For ###, we pray specifically for his desire to return to the NFL. We ask that You would open doors that no man can shut and close doors that are not of Your will. Give him strength, discipline, and favor as he prepares for this opportunity. Remind him that his identity is not found in football, but in You, as Colossians 3:23-24 says, "And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." May he play not for the glory of man, but for Your glory, using the platform You’ve given him to point others to You.
We also lift up his finances, asking that You would bless the work of his hands and provide for every need. Help him to be a faithful steward of what You entrust to him, remembering the words of Malachi 3:10, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." May he honor You with his finances, and may You pour out blessings in return.
Lord, we also pray for his spiritual walk. It is concerning that the name of Jesus was mentioned only at the end of this prayer, almost as an afterthought. We must remember that it is only through the name of Jesus that we have access to the Father. Acts 4:12 tells us, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved." We pray that ### would not only know You as Savior but walk closely with You as Lord. Draw him back to Your house, where he can be fed by Your Word and surrounded by Your people. May he find fellowship and accountability in a local church that preaches the truth of Scripture.
For ###, we ask that You would also order his steps and prepare his heart for the rehab classes he is about to attend. We rebuke any spirit of addiction or bondage in his life, for Your Word declares in John 8:36, "If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." We pray that he would surrender every struggle to You and walk in the freedom that Christ died to give him. Surround him with godly counsel and strength as he takes these steps toward healing.
Father, we ask that You would bless both of these young men from the tops of their heads to the soles of their feet. Protect them from the schemes of the enemy, who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. Instead, may they experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give, as He says in John 10:10, "The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly." Fill them with Your peace, joy, and purpose as they seek to follow You.
We also want to address the importance of their spiritual foundation. If either of these young men does not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we pray that You would draw them to Yourself. Romans 10:9 says, "If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." May they confess their sins, turn from them, and place their trust in Jesus alone for salvation. If they already know You, may they grow deeper in their faith and walk in obedience to Your Word.
Lord, we ask that You would restore their relationships with You and with Your church. May they find a body of believers who will encourage them, pray for them, and hold them accountable. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us, "Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching."
We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus, the name above every name, the only name by which we can be saved. May Your will be done in the lives of ### and ###, and may they bring glory to Your name in all they do. Amen.
