Did you know that Upward Sports isn’t just a basketball and cheer program?  It’s a ministry that touches the lives of around 200 athletes every season!

One of the ways athletes are ministered to is through practice devotionals.  Coaches are expected to lead their teams through a devotion every week.  This season, devotions will focus on three virtues, peace, contentment, and joy, with peace being the overall theme. These characteristics can point us toward lives of goodness and well-being, helping us focus on what truly matters instead of being distracted by the chaos and disorder of a difficult world.

The theme of peace is prevalent throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. God is a God of peace (Judges 6:24), and Jesus says he came to give us peace (John 16:33). The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, conveys the idea of wholeness, completeness, and wellbeing. In a broken world, we all desire peace at heart. Meanwhile, contentment helps us find peace, and joy helps us maintain it.

What comes to mind when you think about peace?

Prayer Requests:

Pray for those who are considering how they can plug into a ministry and volunteer.

Pray for our family as we mourn my husband’s brother Levi.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to be working in the lives of kids and their families who will be part of the 2027 Upward Cheering and Basketball season.