You probably have a training plan.
You know when to lift, when to practice, when to recover, and what you need to do to prepare for competition. Your schedule might include film sessions, team meetings, classes, treatment, and travel.
You understand something important: If you want to grow as an athlete, you need consistent habits.
You can’t expect to become stronger by occasionally visiting the weight room. You can’t develop your skills by practicing only when you feel motivated.
But here’s a question worth considering.
Are you as intentional about training your soul as you are about training your body?
For many college athletes, the answer is uncomfortable.
You want to grow in your faith. You want to know God better. You want to trust Him when pressure builds and respond to adversity with patience instead of frustration.
But your Bible stays closed for days at a time. Prayer becomes something you do before games. And spiritual growth gets pushed to the bottom of your schedule because something else always seems more urgent.
You aren’t necessarily rejecting God. You might simply be treating your relationship with Him as something that will grow without intentional attention.
The Bible offers a better way.
Spiritual growth requires training
In 1 Timothy 4:7–8, Paul encourages Timothy to train himself for godliness, explaining that while bodily training has some value, godliness is valuable in every way.
Paul isn’t telling Timothy to stop working hard physically. He is reminding him that spiritual growth deserves intentional effort, too.
As an athlete, you already understand the principle.
Training creates opportunities for development through repeated practice. Over time, consistent effort shapes your habits, responses, and abilities.
Spiritual formation also involves intentional practices, but there is an important difference.
You cannot transform your heart simply by trying harder. Christian growth depends on God’s work in you through His Spirit and His Word.
Your role is to respond to Him, surrender your life to His leadership, and build habits that help you hear and follow His truth.
Think of it as Holy Sweat and Wholly Surrender. You pursue spiritual disciplines with intention while recognizing that God is the one who transforms you.
So what might this look like in a college athlete’s schedule?
1. Start your day with God’s voice
Your phone probably delivers plenty of messages before you even get out of bed.
Notifications, group chats, social media, practice updates, and reminders about assignments can quickly fill your mind.
Before you’ve had a chance to think clearly, you’re already responding to everyone else’s expectations.
What would happen if you gave God the first word instead?
You don’t need an hour-long devotional to begin building this habit. Start with ten minutes.
Read a passage of Scripture. Reflect on what it reveals about God. Consider what it means for your life today. Pray about what you’re facing.
If you’re struggling with fear, read about God’s faithfulness. If you’re frustrated with a teammate, consider what Scripture teaches about patience and love. If you’re worried about your role, return to the truth that your identity is grounded in Christ rather than your performance.
The goal isn’t to check a box. It’s to learn to listen to God and respond to His truth.
2. Practice surrender throughout the day
Spiritual growth doesn’t stop when you close your Bible.
Some of your most important moments with God might happen during a difficult workout, a frustrating class, or a conversation with your coach.
When you feel anger rising, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to help you respond with patience.
When fear begins to control your thinking, remember what is true about your identity in Christ.
When you want to take credit for a good performance, thank God for the abilities and opportunities He has given you.
Galatians 5:16 calls believers to walk by the Spirit.
Walking suggests a daily pattern of dependence, not a single moment of spiritual enthusiasm.
You won’t respond perfectly every time. But you can learn to recognize what’s happening in your heart, turn to God, and choose a response that honors Him.
3. Build relationships that strengthen your faith
College athletes understand the value of training partners.
Someone beside you can encourage you when you’re tired, challenge you when you’re cutting corners, and remind you of your goals when you lose focus.
Your spiritual life benefits from that kind of community, too.
Find other believers who will help you follow Jesus. Join a campus ministry or church. Make time for conversations that go deeper than sport. Invite a teammate to read Scripture with you or pray together before practice.
You don’t have to navigate your spiritual life alone.
And don’t assume that the people around you will automatically know what you’re struggling with. Let trusted friends into your life. Give them permission to ask honest questions and encourage you toward Christ.
Spiritual growth happens personally, but it was never meant to happen in isolation.
4. Review your growth, not just your results
Athletes regularly evaluate performance.
You watch film, track progress, and identify areas for improvement. You don’t expect every workout to produce an obvious result, but you trust that consistent training matters.
Consider bringing that same intentionality to your spiritual life.
At the end of each week, ask yourself:
- Where did I see God at work in my life?
- When did I rely on my own strength instead of trusting Him?
- What did I learn from Scripture that I need to put into practice?
- Who helped me grow, and whom can I encourage?
Don’t use these questions to measure whether God loves you more because you had a good spiritual week. His love is not a reward for your performance.
Use them to recognize where you need to surrender, where you are growing, and where you need His help.
Train faithfully. Trust God with the growth.
Your college years will bring opportunities, disappointments, relationships, and decisions that shape the person you become.
You cannot control every circumstance. You cannot guarantee athletic success or prevent every hardship.
But you can develop habits that help you remain connected to God through every season.
Start small. Read Scripture consistently. Pray honestly. Walk by the Spirit. Stay connected to Christian community.
And remember that the goal isn’t simply to become a more disciplined athlete who happens to believe in Jesus.
The goal is to become more like Jesus in every part of your life, including the way you train, compete, respond to pressure, and love your teammates.
Take It to Practice
Build a simple seven-day spiritual training plan.
- Daily: Spend ten minutes reading Scripture and praying.
- During practice: Pause before or after training to surrender your attitude and effort to God.
- Weekly: Meet with another believer for prayer, encouragement, and honest conversation.
- At week’s end: Reflect on where you saw God at work and where you need to grow.
Don’t try to change everything overnight. Begin with one faithful step and build from there.
You already know how to train your body. Now make room in your schedule to train your soul, too.
