I coach high school baseball at a private, non-christian, prep school and before every game we gather together and say the Lord’s Prayer in unison. Ever so often, before we begin, I will remind them why we are doing it, “We are praying this prayer to remember that there is a God and that there is more to life than baseball”. MLB great, Billy Wagner, said that he prayed right before he would pitch simply asking God, “Lord, help me do my best!” Through prayer we pause to remember God and invite him to share in that moment with us. We are inclined toward forgetting God; prayer is our attempt to overcome that the sin of “forgetfulness” by remembering Him.
There is an ancient prayer of the church I came across several years ago that I’m really fond of and believe is very appropriate to pray before any competition. It’s entitled “A Prayer before any Task”.
Almighty God, our Help and Refuge, Fountain of wisdom and Tower of strength, who knowest that I can do nothing without thy guidance and help; assist me, I pray thee, and direct me to divine wisdom and power, that I may accomplish this task, and whatever I may undertake to do, faithfully and dilligently, according to thy will, so that it may be profitable to myself and others, and to the glory of thy Holy Name. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.