Devotional on proving love: August 24

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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Daily Devotional: Wednesday, August 19 – Be Ready

By Sports Spectrum Aug 19, 2026

Anthony Davis (center) shares a laugh with Deron Williams (left) and Kevin Love on the bench during a game against Nigeria at the London Olympics, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” — Matthew 25:10 (NLT)

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NBA superstar Anthony Davis hadn’t played a minute of pro basketball when he was added to the Team USA roster for the 2012 London Olympics. Surrounded by all-time greats like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron James, Davis was just a starstruck 19-year-old kid drafted a month before.

Davis didn’t play much for Team USA during its trek to the gold medal, but during a blowout victory against Nigeria, his number was called. This was his chance!

But as Davis ran to the scorer’s table, he realized something.

“I was just so happy to be around all these guys, all these future Hall of Famers,” he said via NBC Sports in 2020, “that I forgot to put my jersey on before the game.”

The moment had finally arrived, but Davis wasn’t ready for it. He hadn’t adequately prepared, by neglecting to simply put on his jersey, and the opportunity passed.

Jesus told a story in the Bible about the dangers of not being ready for a big moment, known as the parable of the 10 bridesmaids in Matthew 25:1-13.

In the story, the bridesmaids are waiting for the big moment — the arrival of the bridegroom. But they didn’t know exactly when he’d come. Five of them were ready, because they had brought enough oil for their lamps, but five were not because they ran out of oil. So when the bridegroom finally did come, the five who were ready joyously accompanied him to the wedding. The five who weren’t missed his arrival and were locked out.

Jesus is the bridegroom, we are the bridesmaids, and Heaven is the wedding itself. We know Jesus will return and His people will be ushered into the presence of God for all eternity, but we don’t know when this will happen. The lesson of the parable is that we need to be spiritually ready — at all times — for Christ’s return.

Spiritual readiness doesn’t just mean agreeing intellectually with the truth of Christianity. It means talking to Jesus, listening to Him, and being obedient to His Word. It means worshiping Him with your whole heart, serving Him and His people with joy, and doing your best at whatever it is He’s called you to do. Don’t wait until “life slows down a little” to get serious about your relationship with Christ.

When He calls your number, will you be ready to check into the game? When that glorious moment of His return is finally here, what will He find you doing?

— Kevin Mercer

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Daily Devotional: Tuesday, August 18 – I Surrender

By Sports Spectrum Aug 18, 2026

Colombia's Daniel Munoz, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

“I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” — Psalm 40:8

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“Surrendering” to most people, especially the professional athlete, is like a curse word. It has been ingrained in our psyche to never give up or give in, regardless of the circumstances. But when it comes to our relationship with the Lord, nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus demanded total commitment from His followers in Mark 8:34-36, even unto physical death. He was calling for full surrender. Acknowledging Jesus as your Savior is one thing; submitting to Him as Lord over your life is next level. This involves living a lifestyle of self-denial, prioritizing the Lord and His interests in how you see your life, make your decisions, and handle your relationships.

This is how strong, productive disciples are made. Becoming fruitful in any endeavor is about absolute consistency. Some Bibles use the old-fashioned word “steadfastness.”

The Lord does great things with those who are completely surrendered to His will. He may not be asking you to build an ark, be a prophet to Israel, or plant churches throughout Asia, but He does want you to have the heart of the psalmist who declared in Psalm 40:8, “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

You can’t become all God has called you to be if you’re full of fear, resentment, indifference or yourself. It’s time to give all that up and surrender to God’s will for your life.

— Jerry Birch, Cleveland Cavaliers chaplain

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