6 Bible Verses for Youth Sport Athletes (And How to Share Them Devotionally)
I’ve been following an instagram account of a “Mental Performance Consultant” who hosts weekly seminars on how to train the mind so we’re best positioned to compete to our potential. In her latest seminar, she taught about how "mindfulness meditation” can improve how distance runners race.
Mindfulness meditation is “the practice of awareness and openness to what is real in the present moment.” She went on to show how the latest research shows that this practice improves presence, relationship to stress, sleep, and even immune function. Beyond that, mindful meditation gives athletes a growing awareness of their “weather” patterns—making them more dialed in to recognize inaccurate perspectives, thoughts, and states that don’t lead to flourishing.
Her basic argument is that taking time to reflect before we compete helps us build a relationship with fear and physical pain, so we can handle both more calmly when they show up in competition.
Throughout the seminar, she referred to meditation as an ancient practice.
She’s right. It is ancient. And it made me think about how Scripture invites athletes into a kind of mindful meditation on God’s truth.
Filling the Mind, Not Emptying It
Much of secular mindfulness aims at emptying the mind, or at simply observing thoughts without judgment. But biblical meditation aims at filling the mind with something true and then letting that truth shape how we see everything else.
We see this in the Psalms as it describes the blessed person as one whose “delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2).
Athletes attempting to integrate faith and sport can still benefit from noticing their internal weather. Things like nerves, doubts, the rising heart rate during a hard rep are all worth paying attention to. But we can teach athletes how to move beyond merely noticing and give them tools to bring what’s noticed to God—and let His Word speak to it.
Against that backdrop, I have 6 Bible verses that we should be sharing with youth sport athletes. If you’re a coach or a parent who desires to inject God’s word into the heart of your kid or someone on your team, these verses are great ways to equip them. Yes, because these verses will help give them a proper perspective on sport. Yes, because the research shows that mindful meditation on truth and reality positively impacts their performance. But most importantly, because God’s Word encourages us to remember it, store it, and reflect on it (Deuteronomy 11:18, Psalm 119:11).
Philippians 4:6–7
Because youth sport athletes deal with immense anxiety and pressure.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Anxiety runs rampant in youth sports. And honestly, the culprits are usually us, the adults! Scholarships, playing time, parents in the stands, social media, and the athlete’s own sense of identity can all feel like everything is at stake during competition. Telling a young athlete “don't be nervous” rarely helps.
But isn’t that exactly what Paul is telling us in Philippians 4:6-7? Not exactly. Paul is giving anxiety somewhere to go. Peace is something that God gives, but it comes from bringing requests and thanksgiving to God in prayer. Young athletes need less “don’t be nervous” and more “Jesus wants to help, bring Him into this moment by reaching out to Him.”
Devotional practice: Before competing, encourage young athletes to write down the specific things they’re anxious about. Have them be honest (maybe consider modeling it for them). Then help them turn each one into a request to God. Finally, ask them to write down three things they’re thankful for about this sport, this team, or this day.
Joshua 1:9
Because youth sport athletes should play with an awareness of God’s presence.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
The focus of this verse is often relegated to being “strong and courageous.” Joshua was stepping into Moses’ shoes, which is about as much pressure as a person can face. God’s command to be strong and courageous wasn’t based on Joshua’s ability to white knuckle it and do it himself. It was based on God’s presence.
Athletes often feel most alone and isolated in the hardest moments. And this verse reminds them that “wherever you go” includes anywhere you end up in sport.
Devotional practice: Have your youth sport athlete close their eyes and picture the moment in competition they are most afraid of. Tell them to walk through it slowly in their mind. When their done, have them do it again, but this time, picture it with the awareness that God is right there with them. What changes?
Psalm 16:11
Because joy comes from God, not from the result of a game.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Even the best teams lose. So, if joy depends on the scoreboard, athletes are guaranteed to lose it regularly. Beyond that, ask anyone who has achieved significant success in sport and they will tell you that the wins tend to deliver less satisfaction than they expected.
Why? Because we are made for eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11)—and earthly success will always fall short of that.
David shows us in Psalm 16:11 that fullness of joy is anchored in God’s presence. That should free athletes to enjoy competing, to love the game, and to celebrate wins without needing the result to carry the full weight of their happiness.
Devotional practice: Ask your youth sport athlete: After the last loss, where did your joy go? After your last win, how long did the happiness last? Then pray together, asking God to be the source of joy they bring into competition rather than the joy they hope to get out of it.
Hebrews 12:1–2
Because perseverance involves fixing one’s eyes on Jesus.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”
This one speaks directly to the relationship with pain the mental performance consultant talked about. Every athlete will hit the moment when their body says “nope, I’m done.” As a runner myself, I love that the writer of Hebrews doesn’t deny that the race is hard. Everyone knows racing requires perseverance! He tells us where to look while we run it.
But while sport culture may teach us that endurance involves just gritting your teeth and gutting it out, the biblical truth worth meditation on is that we’re encouraged to lift our eyes to Jesus. Jesus endured far more than any race or practice will ever ask of us. When things get hard, young athletes can best persevere by looking toward the One who did it better than any one in human history.
Devotional practice: Help your youth sport athlete to identify one “weight” they’re carrying into competition: fear of failure, a grudge against a teammate, a need to prove something to a parent or coach. Have them name it (naming it tames it!), and ask God to help them lay it down. During their next hard practice, have them try shifting focus from the pain to Jesus, even for a few seconds.
Philippians 2:3–4
Because youth sport athletes need constant reminders to take their eyes off themselves.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
It shouldn’t surprise any of us to read that sport culture pulls hard toward celebrating self. And honestly, some of that is just part of sports. If you share this verse with a young athlete, make sure you point out that Paul doesn’t say ignore your own interests. He says look not only to them. Essentially, Paul is encouraging people to have a category in their minds where they notice other people and find ways to move toward them.
The athlete who counts teammates as significant becomes a better teammate, and often a freer competitor. How? Because self-focus tends to add pressure, while others-focused tends to relieve it.
Devotional practice: Tell your youth sport athlete to write down the names of three teammates. Next to each, write one way they can serve or encourage them this week. Pray with them for each athlete by name before their next game or practice.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Because youth sport athletes are prone to seek glory for themselves.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
If eating and drinking can be done for God’s glory, so just about anything in sport. This verse makes sport even more meaningful than we often give it credit for because it show how sport becomes worship.
Most of us, athletes and adults alike, want some of the glory for ourselves. The human condition is bent toward that end. And honestly, it feels good (at least temporarily) when we get glory. But when athletes learn that God’s glory is more satisfying that what we earn for ourselves—and that it can be given to God regardless of how well or poorly we play, it positions athletes to play from freedom instead of fear.
Devotional practice: Before the next competition, ask your young athlete: “Regardless of the final score today, who do you want to get the credit? Encourage honest answers! Then pray with them, offering their effort, body, and the outcome to God as an act of worship.
A Word to Coaches and Parents on Utilizing These Verses
God’s word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). But these verses land best when integrated into the rhythm of an athlete’s life rather than just delivered as a lecture. Here are a few ideas for integrating them:
Coaches: Choose one verse per week of the season. Read it at the start of practice, give athletes 60 seconds of silence to reflect, and carry out the devotional practice section together.
Parents: Text your athlete the verse on game day and simply let them know you love them and you’re excited to watch them play. Skip the pep talk. Let the Word do the work.
What we dwell on shapes how we compete, and more importantly, how we live and who we become. Our young athletes are going to meditate on something before they compete.
Let’s give them something better to fill their minds with.
Let’s give them a steady diet of God’s word and trust that His truth will outlast every season they play.
