THURSDAY, 17th SEPTEMBER 2020: SPORTS AND RECREATION
PRAYER GUIDE
ISAIAH 51:15-16 (NKJV)
15But I am the Lord your God,
Who divided the sea whose waves roared—
The Lord of hosts is His name.
16And I have put My words in your mouth; [Emphasis Added]
I have covered you with the shadow of My hand,
That I may plant the heavens,
Lay the foundations of the earth, [Emphasis Added]
And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”
JEREMIAH 1:9,10 (ESV)
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
EZEKIEL 37: 3-5, 7, 9, 10
And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, [Emphasis Added] O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live….
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, [Emphasis Added] and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone…
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, [Emphasis Added] Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on
these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, [Emphasis Added] and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
MARK 11:13-14
And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he
came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, [Emphasis Added] “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. [Emphasis Added]
MARK 11:22-24
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, [Emphasis Added] whoever says to this mountain, [Emphasis Added] Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says [Emphasis Added] will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, [Emphasis Added] believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
GUIDING TEXT FOR THE FASTING SEASON
ISAIAH 32:1-8
1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
And princes will rule with justice.
2A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,
And a cover from the tempest,
As rivers of water in a dry place,
As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
3The eyes of those who see will not be dim,
And the ears of those who hear will listen.
4Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge,
And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.
5The foolish person will no longer be called generous,
Nor the miser said to be bountiful;
6For the foolish person will speak foolishness,
And his heart will work iniquity:
To practice ungodliness,
To utter error against the Lord,
To keep the hungry unsatisfied,
And he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
7Also the schemes of the schemer are evil;
He devises wicked plans
To destroy the poor with lying words,
Even when the needy speaks justice.
8But a generous man devises generous things,
And by generosity he shall stand.
Day |
Day of the Week |
Date |
Area of Focus |
WEEK FIVE |
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| 30 | Thursday | 17th September 2020 | Sports and Recreation |
| 31 | Friday | 18th September 2020 | International Cooperation |
| 32 | Saturday | 19th September 2020 | International Geopolitics |
| 33 | Sunday | 20th September 2020 | Africa, Israel and the Nations |
| 34 | Monday | 21st September 2020 | The Executive |
| 35 | Tuesday | 22nd September 2020 | Cabinet |
WEEK SIX |
|||
| 36 | Wednesday | 23rd September 2020 | Local Government |
| 37 | Thursday | 24th September 2020 | Public Service |
| 38 | Friday | 25th September 2020 | The Army and the Reserve Force |
| 39 | Saturday | 26th September 2020 | Border Control |
| 40 | Sunday | 27th September 2020 | Justice, Law and Order |
| 41 | Monday | 28th September 2020 | The Police and LDUs |
| 42 | Tuesday | 29th September 2020 | Prisons and Rehabilitation |
WEEK SEVEN |
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| 43 | Wednesday | 30th September 2020 | The Legislature |
| 44 | Thursday | 1st October 2020 | Political Organizations |
| 45 | Friday | 2nd October 2020 | The Electoral Commission |
| 46 | Saturday | 3rd October 2020 | The Electorate |
| 47 | Sunday | 4th October 2020 | The 2021 Elections |
| 48 | Monday | 5th October 2020 | Post- Election to Swearing-in |
| 49 | Tuesday | 6th October 2020 | Marketplace Restoration |
CONCLUSION |
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| 50 | Wednesday | 7th October 2020 | Dedicating the Decade 2020 -2029 |
| Thursday | 8th October 2020 | Dedicating 2020/2021 | |
| Friday | 9th October 2020 | THANKSGIVING |
DATES TO NOTE
CONCLUDING VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
Monday, 5th October to Wednesday, 7th October 2020 (6 pm to 9 pm)
CONCLUDING NIGHT VIGIL & DEDICATION OF 2020/2021
Thursday, 8th October 2020
SPORTS AND RECREATION
Sports and athletic competitions have been popular since ancient times. The Scriptures often refer to sports in good light. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, traveled a lot – very often on foot. He was very familiar with sports and being fit. He is the one who most used sports related metaphors such as running the race, fighting the good fight, and training in righteousness to illustrate truth. Paul compared exercising and training the body with exercising and training the spirit. Though the latter is better, the former he noted as being good.
The Bible uses athletic analogies and stories to encourage the development of perseverance. The discipline and passion seen in athletes are a great physical example of what we should be doing in our spiritual walk. In the crucible of competitive action, the inner character of the athlete and whether an athlete has self control or not become very obvious to all. There are many verses that can offer athletes motivation and inspiration for training and competition. We must be careful, however, not to idolize sports, rather to participate in them in such a way that they bring glory to God.
The early Christian communities were not too enthused by sports for a number of reasons. First the early Olympic games were laced with idolatry – dedicated to pagan gods like Zeus and Nike – and athletes often competed in the nude. Christians were often thrown into sports arenas to fight with wild animals in the gladiator games. The professionalization and popularization of sports came with the industrial revolution, providing a platform for evangelism and opportunities for teaching on morality. Due to the conveniences of modern life, we are exercising our bodies less and less as we take on sedentary lifestyles. As a result, the rate of growth of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer is accelerating.
Sports activities draw out some of the most emotive expressions of patriotism for nations. In Uganda, National Council of Sports (NCS) is a statutory organ whose establishment, status and powers are enshrined under the NCS Act of 1964, to among other things; develop, promote and control sports activities on behalf of Government, under the Ministry of Education and Sports. The NCS, which is linked to the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) and other relevant sports organizations, serves as the regular and apex organization that coordinates all sports activities in the country, in conjunction with National Sports Associations/Federations.
The Uganda Olympic Committee acts as an agent of the International Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Federation in Uganda, to uphold and promote Olympic and Commonwealth ideals to its affiliates and stakeholders by providing support, guiding policy and delivering programmes through its organs and structures.
SCRIPTURES FOR SPORTS AND RECREATION
MARK 6:31,32
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
EXODUS 23:12
“Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that
you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a
perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
JEREMIAH 12:5
If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?
1 TIMOTHY 4:6-9
If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being
trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive…
I TIMOTHY 6:11,12
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which
you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many
witnesses.
2 TIMOTHY 2:5
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 TIMOTHY 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
EPHESIANS 6:10-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
HEBREWS 12:1,2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
WORSHIP GOD WHO DOES NOT GROW FAINT OR WEARY, NOR SLEEPS OR SLUMBERS
ISAIAH 40:28-31
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
PSALM 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
THANK GOD FOR:
- The leadership at the Sports Associations, National Council of Sports, and the Ministry of Education and Sports
- The bodies He gave us and the ability to move, walk, run (if you are able to do so).
- The recent reintroduction of Physical Exercise (P.E.) into the curriculum for schools by the Ministry of Education and Sports. The importance of extra-curricular activities in education has been grasped and students’ talents can now be developed through P.E.
- Thank God for the many opportunities He has blessed us with for recreation through sports and the arts
- The victories and advances Ugandan sportsmen and women have made in netball, football, athletics, chess, swimming etc.
- The sense of patriotism that these victories have brought to the country.
PROCLAMATION FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND CELEBRATION
A Declaration Of What We Are Praying For And What We See As God Answers Prayer
God is raising leaders for Uganda at all levels of sports and recreation that will lead in
righteousness and justice.
Righteous and just policies and laws will create a very favorable environment for sports to
flourish in Uganda
The National Council of Sports will be well managed.
Corruption and fraudulent practices like doping and molestation will be purged from sports.
Those in the administration of sports only for what they can get out of it will be removed.
Sports will be developed as an industry all over the country.
Coaches, athletes and technical personnel will be well trained and equipped.
Physical Education, sports facilities, and equipment will be available all across the country.
Physical Education and Sports will be well developed in the school systems.
Sports competitions will be welled organized all over the country and there will be a wide
variety of physical education and sports programs.
Sporting talents will be identified and developed from an early age.
A high level of sportsmanship, excellence and discipline will be the hallmark of Ugandan
sportsmen and women and these will be inculcated from an early age.
Sportsmen and women will be well motivated.
The country will experience the benefits of sports in health, engaging the youth, employment, the
economy, patriotism, and unifying the country.
Sports evangelism and training will be well established.
Uganda will host many national, regional and international sporting events
Uganda will experience national joy, pride, and unity as athletes win regional and international
sporting events.
Uganda’s sons and daughters will bring many trophies home.
Positive role models will emerge from the sports sector.
Uganda’s potential for sports will come to fullness.
Uganda will be known as a sporting nation and a global sports powerhouse destination
AMEN
