As competitors, we are always looking for an advantage. The question we try to answer is how to gain an advantage over our opponent to win. Our approach to winning is seeking, gaining and implementing advantages. We work at practicing harder, watching film, working out, buying better equipment and gear. Not sure that is true, how much did you spend on your newest pair of shoes?
At a deeper level, during competitions, we try to gain the advantage by leveraging the rules of the game or leveraging the boundary lines. On the basketball court, if we trap the player with the ball in the front court just after they crossed the half court line, we can cause a turnover. We disrupt their play. Leveraging this kind of advantage is good. It’s fair. It’s acceptable – and it gives you the advantage.
Sometimes we try to expose an opposing team or player’s weakness and take advantage of that. In the NBA (National Basketball Association) the strategy of fouling the opponent’s poorest shooting free throw player, called the "Hack-a-Shaq" was used to gain an advantage. It refers to teams intentionally fouling a poor free throw shooter, particularly during critical game moments, to limit scoring opportunities. This advantage was used so much, the NBA implemented a new rule to diminish this tactic.
Gaining the advantage is ingrained in athletics. There is a better way Christian competitors ought to seek the advantage and it’s through prayer. A player can pray before each game, asking the Lord for the things on his or her heart. The Bible does say to pray about all things (Matthew 7:7-8; Philippians 4:6-7; I Thessalonians 5:17; Psalm 37:4). Taking the time to pray before games brings a mindset of advantage – but the advantage is inside of you, not against the opposing team. When you ask the Lord to be with you, to help you, to keep you safe, to keep you free from injuries, to help your team win, He is listening. God’s greater interest however, is your heart, your mind, your body, in how well you practiced, how you intend to play with a high level of intensity and integrity and how your attitude in all things is to honor and glorify Him.
Take this to heart, praying gives you an advantage, not to win, but to play to the best of your ability. And by playing well and playing hard, you might win the game. Even if you don’t win, you can take courage in that you played hard and played your best, which brings greater joy and glory to God.