Devotional about God's plans: July 14

Daily Devotional: Tuesday, July 14 – God Has A Plan

By Sports Spectrum Jul 14, 2026

Michigan players celebrate a goal by Kent Johnson (13) during an NCAA hockey game, Oct. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

“For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” — Isaiah 14:27

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I was reading the Winter 2025 issue of Sports Spectrum Magazine and the story about NHL players Kent Johnson and Owen Power caught my attention. Both of them played their college hockey at the University of Michigan. In the winter of 2019, I was interviewing to be a teaching pastor at a large church in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The church knew my background as a pro and college team chaplain, so the role included the opportunity to be the team chaplain for the Michigan men’s hockey team. After a trip to Ann Arbor and some lengthy interviews, I ultimately turned down the role, but I always wondered what happened to the players on that team.

When I read the article in Sports Spectrum, I saw how God had been at work with those athletes. God had a plan for the hockey team and He used who He planned to use (Isaiah 14:27, above). His plan didn’t include me. God can choose to use who He wants to use. So don’t ever think, “Oh no, this won’t happen without me. God’s plan won’t get done.”

Today, follow Jesus moment by moment and trust Him to use you right where you are. If it’s part of His plan for you to be somewhere, you’ll be there, and if it’s not part of His plan, then you won’t be there. God is always at work, and sometimes His plans include you, sometimes they don’t.

— Ikki Soma, Iowa Wolves chaplain

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Daily Devotional: Tuesday, August 25 – Beyond The Highlight Reel

By Sports Spectrum Aug 25, 2026

Atlanta Falcons training camp practice, Aug. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” — Colossians 3:23

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Across the country, NFL players and coaches are preparing for another season. Players are competing for roster spots, coaches are installing plays, and fans are watching closely.

But behind every practice are people working behind the scenes. Someone is making sure practice uniforms are washed and ready. Equipment staff members are checking helmets and pads. Others are keeping hydration stations ready with water, oranges and protein bars.

Most fans will never know their names. They won’t appear on a highlight reel or hear thousands of fans cheering for them. But their work matters.

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that the body has many parts, and every part has a purpose. Not everyone has the same role, but every role is important.

The same is true in our lives. Maybe you feel like one of these people working behind the scenes. Maybe your work seems ordinary or goes unnoticed.

But God sees you. Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Jesus gave us the ultimate example of serving others. Mark 10:45a says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

So to the people working through the heat and humidity of training camp: Your work matters. To the person serving others in a job few people notice: Your work matters. And to the Christian quietly serving God without recognition: Your faithfulness matters.

The world may notice the players under the bright lights, but God sees the people behind them. You don’t have to be in the spotlight to make a difference. The highlight reel may not include your name, but God sees you. And faithful service is never unnoticed by Him.

— Eric Aceves

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Daily Devotional: Monday, August 24 – More Than Just Talk

By Sports Spectrum Aug 24, 2026

Seattle Seahawks guard Grey Zabel, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:35

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Seattle Seahawks guard Grey Zabel grew up on a farm in South Dakota. In his teen years, he worked long hours on the family farm helping plant, grow and harvest wheat, soybeans and corn. He played college football for the North Dakota State Bisons and was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. When Seattle won the 2026 Super Bowl, his parents were in attendance. They celebrated this great accomplishment with everyone else and are grateful their son stayed humble thus far, even though he’s already attained a big name.

Though it wasn’t easy for the elder Zabels to let their young son leave, they loved him enough to support his future. Many fans have benefitted from the big hearts of Grey Zabel’s parents, who share him with the public and are living out the Christian love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

When we love as God intended, we give people space to be individuals who make their own decisions, and we avoid harsh judgments, especially when we don’t know the whole story. From beginning to end, the Bible urges us to get rid of our grudges and realize we all mess up. Every person needs some mercy and grace. In fact, the Lord commands us to forgive and treat others the way we want to be treated: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:18).

The cross is the greatest demonstration of love. It’s surprising for Jesus to allow Himself to be executed for our sins when He was totally innocent. Yet Jesus put aside His personal comfort and allowed cruel men to torture Him in the worst ways. His incredible sacrifice paid the full price for our sins (John 3:16). The love of God for sinners is beyond description — the death of Christ proved His love for us and He calls us to learn to walk in His footsteps by loving others like He does (1 John 3:16).

It’s important for us to do more than just talk about love. We need to prove our love is real by our actions.

— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia

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Daily Devotional: Friday, August 21 – Live Your Own Story

By Sports Spectrum Aug 21, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during a match at the Australian Open, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” — Proverbs 19:21

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Tennis world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz had a 2025 season for the ages. In 11 months, he amassed two Grand Slam titles, three Masters 1000 titles, three ATP 500 titles, reached 10 finals in his last 11 events, and produced an astonishing 71-9 record on the year. He also made history by becoming the first player born in the 2000s to end a season with more than 12,000 ranking points.

At just 22 years old, it’s safe to say that this young man is putting together a career so far that’s the stuff legends are made of. Anyone who’s watched his matches knows that the sky is truly the limit on his potential, and he’s just getting started. Which, considering how good he already is (sitting at 26 total titles, including seven Grand Slams), is scary.

But he recently revealed a deep insight when asked in an interview what scares him the most. Was it fame? Not reaching his goals? Losing a heartbreaking match? Not ending with the most majors in history? None of those, he said. Instead, it was “living a life I don’t want to live. Being stuck in a loop, living a life doing something I don’t really want to do.”

Above all of the things that could scare him the most, it was living a life he wasn’t meant for — living out a story that isn’t his own. Perhaps that’s why it has bothered him so much when reporters try to compare him to other greats in the sport, past or present. He just wants to live out his own story and do it well.

If we’re honest, how many of us feel pressure to live out a story that’s not our own? I think probably most. It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to be somebody we’re not, in order to fit in, succeed and advance. Our culture is built on imitation and comparison, forcing us to live lives that look a certain way so that we rise up the corporate or athletic ladder and reach certain levels of set achievement. Things like social media only make this pressure more accessible and appealing.

But the truth is, God didn’t create us to live our lives centered around imitating others; He made us to be imitators of Him. He formed us in His own image and has plans and purposes for us that are unique to each and every one of us. He doesn’t want us copying somebody else’s blueprint.

See, God loves variety. If He wanted us all to look and act and be the same, He would’ve designed our world that way. But He didn’t. He delights in the individuality each of us expresses as special creations of His. We are reflective of His creativity and variety.

So yes, it should scare us to go chasing a life that’s not the one designed for us and being stuck in a loop doing something we weren’t meant for. Because, in the end, God isn’t about us fitting in. He’s about us being the difference.

— Katherine Singer

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Daily Devotional: Thursday, August 20 – Even The Small Things

By Sports Spectrum Aug 20, 2026

(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

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I have never been a power hitter, but rather a speedster. My only home run was a fake bunt that tricked the pitcher to throw an easy pitch for me to hit an inside-the-park homer, largely due to my speed and deception.

On a scorching summer day with minimal and mild wind, my friends and I played a pickup game of Home Run Derby on the empty high school softball field. Because of my batting capabilities, I played outfield most of the game and rarely got a chance to swing a bat.

I know it sounds silly, but at that moment, my only prayer was just to hit one home run.

Let’s first acknowledge that God is not Aladdin’s genie, who grants every wish we make. God is a wonderful Heavenly Father who responds (Hebrews 4:16) to our prayers with 1) “yes” (blessings), 2) “no” (redirection, not rejection) and 3) “not yet” (to raise us as healthy and holy children of God). Sometimes, God says no or not yet due to unconfessed sin (Isaiah 59:2), having different plans for us (Isaiah 55:8-9), our doubt (James 1:6-7), or our selfish motives (James 4:3).

God did answer my prayer that day. It was my last at-bat of the day, and I hit my usual base hit fly ball. However, a sudden wind came out of nowhere on this mild and minimal wind day, and gave my baseball just enough oomph to carry it over the wall. Can you imagine the reactions of both me and my friends? To this day, this was my first and only out-of-the-park homer I ever hit, thanks to that perfectly timed gust of wind.

I still remember the lesson I learned that day: If it’s important to me, it’s important to God; no prayer is too small for Him (Matthew 7:11; Luke 12:30-32). After all, God loves us more in one second than the entire world could in a thousand lifetimes. As the Bible says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

— Erik Malinowski

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