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Playing golf linked to Christianity and faith is such an interesting topic. But, you may wonder why even golf should relate to God?
How do you glorify God by doing anything—even playing golf?
Don't just be a Christian who is a bible saturated person. Instead, be a passionate follower of God and live each day striving for his glory.
A sport like golf gives you a unique opportunity to grow in discipline and virtue. They can promote fellowship and joy so you can use your body to glorify God. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:21)
Playing golf for God's glory begins with acknowledging and thanking God for the beauty and joy of the sport. Also, you must be having fun playing golf because when you enjoy His gift, it pleases God and brings Him glory.
Blessedness and happiness are attributes of God, as he is a joyful being. “In His presence, there is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Doing things with joy, excitement, and happiness doesn't only glorify God, but you'll also notice that it helps your well-being.
He created his creations with love and joy, including you as a human being—creating you to be joyful. You are a ball of light made of love and joy, and so you must strive to live as one as you were created.
Life seems tough and challenging. But once you taste the peace and calmness inside, you wouldn't want to return to making you feel miserable again.
Good gifts came from God, such as the gift of life of breath and even golf is a gift from him.
So, it honors and pleases God if he sees you enjoy the gifts he gave you!
Sadly, many athletes do the opposite, and you can see all of this on the news and the internet. Golf cheating, lousy language, anger, filthy language, and club throwing, just to name a few, makes a beautiful game bear a bad name.
In an interview with Golf.com, Kip Henley revealed that “cheating happens almost every single round.”
Don't leave your Christian virtue outside the golf course. Instead, play with integrity and morality, abiding by the house rules of the sport.
Work everything you do as if you are doing it for God and as if he is watching you 9no pressure). How you do anything is how you do everything.
As Paul wrote: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31)
It is not just about doing golf to glorify him, but doing everything, even if it's a simple thing you do daily. It doesn't limit only to actions but also how pure your thoughts and intention are for a certain person or thing.
How do you speak with other people? Do you communicate with pride or ego?
Or do you communicate with compassion and love no matter the social status or the person you're talking to? Finally, when in-game, how do you react to a bad game?
Are you still genuinely happy for the other party who won and you did not? How do you respond to feedback (positive and negative) from people on how you play?
It is simple to live glorifying God and doesn't have to be complicated. The circumstances and challenges surrounding you make it difficult for everyone to stay as a loving and compassionate person (just like God).
You are made of human emotions and limitations, so most people find living in God's glory challenging. But if you strive to transcend from your physical form, not reacting humanly—by just witnessing everything good or bad and letting it pass by and remain calm and peaceful.
It is easy said than done. But that's why prayers are one way of reaching out to God's guidance so that you may strive for a whole day to live a life that is a ball of light full of love and compassion in the glory of God.
The following are famous Golfer's Prayer:
Golfer's Prayer
Almighty God, as we play through our 18 holes of life, we pray that you will give us a drive that's both long enough to reach our goals, and yet straight enough to keep us out of trouble. Help us avoid the traps and hazards of life; nevertheless, should we find ourselves in them, give us the tools, skills, and desire to escape them with no penalty. May we always stay in bounds. Help us to be willing to stand by – and not play through – those in genuine need. May we always play with honor. And finally, when we've putted out on the 18th green, we pray that we will have demonstrated the integrity of our character, so that you will judge us worthy enough to join your threesome and play eternally on your heavenly course. Amen.
Now I Lay Me Down
George Wheler wrote the earliest version of this prayer in his 1698 book The Protestant Monastery, which reads:
Upon lying down, and going to ſleep.
Here I lay me down to ſleep.
To thee, O Lord, I give my Soul to keep,
Wake I ever, Or, Wake I never;
To thee, O Lord, I give my Soul to keep for ever.
A later version printed in The New England Primer and now commonly used goes:
Now I Lay Me Down
To Sleep, I Pray the Lord
My Life to Keep
Though I Know, You'll
Eventually, Take My Soul
Please Let Me Prepare
At The 19th Hole!
Golfer's Psalm 23
The Psalms are songs of praise and prayer that have changed the lives of millions of people over thousands of years. Psalm 23 reminds you that God is good and trustworthy in life and death, even in abundance and need.
The Psalm says, “fear no evil,” for the Lord is your Shepherd. God is always in pursuit of you so you may live an abundant life.
“live life, and live it abundantly”(John 10:10)
Live life in complete trust of God and fear nothing, not even death. For the Lord is in unfailing pursuit of you.
The Golfer's version of Psalm 23 empowers golf prayers in confidence to play in the glory of God, writes:
The LORD is my caddie; I shall not whiff.
He maketh me drive straight down green fairways:
He leadeth me over the still waters.
He restoreth my swing:
He leadeth me in the paths of truthfulness for the game's sake.
Yea, though I pitch through the valley of the shadow of the woods,
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I will fear no bunkers: for thou art with me;
Thy wedge and thy putter, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a line before me in the presence of mind hazards:
Thou anointest my stroke with confidence; the cup will not be runneth over.
Surely birdies and eagles shall follow me all the rounds of my life:
And I will dwell in the clubhouse of the LORD forever.
The following is David's Psalm 23 written in the Scriptures where the Golfer's Psalm was inspired:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Patron Saint of Golf
Saint Andrew the Apostle was the first Apostle and brother to St. Peter.
Saint Andrew the Apostle is the Patron Saint of Fishermen and the country of Scotland—the birthplace of golf. The town is situated on the east coast of Fife in Scotland called.
St. Andrews is known as the Spiritual Home of Golf.
The town was named after Saint Andrew the Apostle, for it is the resting place of his bones and relics. St. Andrews, a city in Scotland, is the oldest golf course in the world, where the sport was first played in the early 15th century.
For this reason, Saint Andrew the Apostle bears the name of the Patron Saint of Golf.
Saint Andrew was nailed to an X-shaped cross and executed for baptizing by Maximilla, the wife of the Roman governor of Patras. His symbol, the saltire (the white diagonal cross on a blue field), is on the Scottish flag.
Scotland is also where St. Andrew's Church was established.
The following are prayers to Saint Andrew. Intercede him in your prayers for the guidance of your game, whether it's golf or basketball.
Prayer to St. Andrew
O Glorious St. Andrew, you
were the first to recognize and
follow the Lamb of God.
With your friend St. John you
remained with Jesus for that first
day, for your entire life, and
now throughout eternity.
As you led your brother St. Peter
to Christ and many others after
him, draw us also to Him.
Teach us to lead others to Christ
solely out of love for Him, and
dedication in His service.
Help us to learn the lesson of
the Cross and to carry our daily
crosses without complaint so
that they may carry us to Jesus.
Amen.
Prayers to Saint Andrew
We humbly beseech Thy Majesty. O
Lord, that as the blessed Apostle
Andrew was once a teacher and ruler
of Thy Church, so he may ever be
our advocate with Thee. Through our
Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
O CHRIST, our Lord, Who didst
beautify the most blessed Andrew
with the grace of apostleship, and the
crown of martyrdom, by granting to
him this special gift, that by preaching
the mystery of the cross, he should
merit death on the cross; grant us to
become most true lovers of Thy holy
cross, and, denying ourselves, to take
up our cross and follow Thee; that by
sharing Thy sufferings in this life, we
may deserve the happiness of
obtaining life everlasting.
Amen.
Golfer's Prayer for Funeral
If your loved one or a friend is a golfer, it would be a good idea to include their passion in their celebration of life. Pray the prayer below to honor a golfer's life that they loved.
The Golf Course in the Sky written by Michael Ashby
As eighteen flags flew at half mast, and
Glasses were soberly raised high
The latest member was having a ball
At the golf course in the sky
Freed from the gravity of the situation
The first tee shot soared through space
Bringing a wondrous, beaming smile
To a kind, down to earth face
Surrounded by old club friends
Once thought never to be seen again
The infinity course beckoned ahead
Eighteen holes were for mere mortal men
Karen Hyman
Karen is a Psychic Medium, a Professional Astrologer, a Spiritual Advisor, and a Life Coach who has been in this career for 19+ years. She specializes in numerology, tarot and oracle cards, twin flames, love & relationships, zodiac, horoscope, dreams interpretation, and astrology. She aims to provide comfort and assurance using her abilities to offer answers to those who seek professional guidance. Read More About Karen Here.
