Tim Tebow Prayer

Every game is a rerun. Tim Tebow is arguably the worst quarterback in the NFL for three quarters. And then he sneaks off to a phone booth before the fourth quarter and emerges as arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the league for the rest of the game. The Denver Broncos have won seven of their last eight games with Tebow at quarterback.

After every score Tim kneels to pray – an act now known as Tebowing. On the sidelines he can be seen “talking to himself” too, murmuring prayers throughout each game.

What is he praying?

Troy Polamalu, safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was asked once why he prays on the sidelines. He said he asks God to protect his body from injury, because football is a dangerous game, and to protect him from pride…because football is a dangerous game.

“Every Christian is to get to that point where they are in constant prayer with God,” Polamalu has said. “So that everything they do in thought and speech, in work is praising God.”

These are the two prayers of Tebow: “Thank you” and “protect me.”

Kneeling in the end zone after a touchdown, looking upward after a completed pass. This is gratitude. An acknowledgment that manna has fallen…again…underserved and miraculous.

What if Denver loses? Will Tebow thank God then?

Well, he has to lose before we can find out. And being such a consistent winner threatens humility so Tebow prays for protection: “Win or lose, give me the strength to honor you.” To not honor Tim Tebow. To not be thankful only in first place but also in last. Soul protection.

Many critics have scoffed at Tebow’s publicly practiced faith. But where else is a public figure to practice “constant prayer with God?” When one works in public how else is one to practice prayer at work?

And then there are those who laugh at the idea that God is involved in the outcome of a football game at all. But these are men who aren’t listening to what Tebow is praying. Tim Tebow isn’t asking God to beat the Patriots for him this weekend. According to his book, Tebow’s not so sure God cares about the score of a football game either. But he’s certain God cares about him. God cares about whether Tim’s noticing every gift he’s been given and concerned about representing God well.

And when Tim cares about what God cares about? Win or lose, that’s victory.

UPDATE: Will Tebow thank God when he loses? Now that the Broncos have lost to the Patriots we can answer the question. NFL.com has the answer.

31 comments on “The Two Prayers Of Tim Tebow (Updated 12.19.11)”

Jason says:

The more I see of Tim Tebow, the more I’m convicted in my life for the times I haven’t really lived my faith the way I know I need to live it. My walk’s been better from watching Tim’s and learning from him.

MainlineMom aka Sarah says:

Agree with Jason 100%…Tim Tebow has successfully convicted me about how public my faith is or is not, how often I’m in prayer, and I think I’m better for it. I roll my eyes every time someone says God has better things to worry about than a football game. That is complete and utter ignorance of who God is. As if God worries? As if He couldn’t care about more than one thing at a time? And then there’s the whole issue of sovereignty.

jen says:

We are not a football family, but many of my son’s friends are in love with the game. The thing that convicts me as I hear the boys talk about Tim Tebow: Should this thing he is doing – the praying and the gratitude – be so out of the ordinary for this group of boys growing up in Christian homes? Should they be so awed at a grown man giving praise after a touchdown (real or proverbial)? Should I, as a mother of one of these, be kneeling in front of them more often; the “touchdowns” in my life are different – a good parking space, a child learning something new, a book read by a struggling-to-read child – but aren’t they as worth of public praise? Aren’t they? (And yet, I have to admit, I still struggle with that notion that perhaps it’s a little too show-y to kneel and give thanks to God because all the laundry is done . . . though that is nothing short of a miracle!)

December 16, 2011 at 3:30 pm

Dawn Wiebe says:

Thanks Jen. We’re big fans of Tebow.. all four of my boys have been watching him since he was with the gators..they can relate to him because he was a homeschool kid and a missionary kid just like them! This isn’t new to me but your reminder of us as mothers kneeling in front of them on a daily basis as He gives us reasons to praise Him is a reminder I needed today. I pray today that I would praise Him “too” much rather than not enough to really praise Him in all things.

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Beth says:

I regularly hear or read about Tim Tebow too, but not from football fans. The UND Fighting Sioux (they will forever be the Sioux, regardless of what the NCAA says), are privileged enough to have an exceptionally talented freshman hockey player on their men’s team this year. Rocco Grimaldi. He’s played in only a few games since his arrival due to a knee injury. He was the overall 2nd pick for the NHL draft; going to the Tampa Bay Lightening. He’s all of 5’6″ and 140 lbs. His incredible ability on the ice isn’t what drives him either. It’s his faith. He’s leading a FB Bible study, very active in his church here, is an excellent student; and takes A LOT of harassment from all directions about his “Tebow-like” outspoken faith. He was criticized for wearing a tie with crosses on it during the draft; and it got worse after the press questioned him about it. The criticism is like water off a duck’s back to him though. He’s driven on by what God has in store for his life.

Neither Tebow nor Grimaldi are driven by others’ responses to their outward lived faith; but rather by the inner joy of glorifying God in ALL things. We need more of these examples in all levels of sports; and other areas of life too.

Beth

Dina says:

A great post on the real life life offering if one of God’s own! We’ve been long time Tebow fans since his college days and his book (his life) speaks to so many necessary lessons I want to teach my own children: humility, hard work as unto God, and that the heart is what matters, whether in church or on the football field. A worthy role model for our generation!

Leigh says:

My sister and I were honored to meet Tim a few days before he was drafted by the Broncos. After telling him how proud we were to be Gators and how much we had enjoyed watching him play we asked him how we could pray for him. He paused (I think he was more used to people asking him to do stuff for them than being asked what he needed) then said “that I would stay strong in my faith and be a good example no matter what happens.” Shaun, your post is one of the best I have read about Tebow since his NFL career started. Thanks!

Sherrey says:

We need more Tim Tebows, praying constantly, wherever they are, male or foemale, football player or grocery clerk. Thank you for posting this honestly written commentary on “tebowing” or praying, whichever you all it! Amen and amen!

Thomas D says:

Thanksgiving and prayers to God for all things in life is not only the will of God for us, as we realize our own weaknesses, but helps put all things into perspective when shaken by the unsettling things of this life; that even our darkest moments are just that, moments, and that He is holding on to us and transforming us through them. While our prayers for protection should not just be from the dark forces outside, but from within (Mark 7:17-23).