Super Bowl Gospel 2020: 7 Sanctified Quotes From Your Favorite NFL Stars To Keep Your Spirits Lifted
Football fans will descend upon Miami to witness sport’s biggest event of the year: Super Bowl LIV.
Taking over the Hard Rock Stadium (also known as the Sun Life Stadium), the San Francisco 49ers will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday (Feb. 2) to see which team will victoriously emerge as the newly-crowned champions of the 2019 NFL season. Ahead of the annual tradition, is the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration. Originating during the Super Bowl XXXIII game in 1999, the NFL-sanctioned event will air its 21st telecast on Saturday (Feb. 1) where some of the biggest gospel and soul music star’s will congregate together onstage.
As previously announced, legendary radio host Rickey Smiley returns as this year’s host of the one-hour concert special. Gospel and soul icons Patti LaBelle, Yolanda Adams, Gladys Knight, and Anthony Hamilton will also be joined by the NFL Players Choir where they will lift up their voices to inspire local communities with uplifting music and inspirational messages. The ceremony comes right on time following the devastating loss of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant in the fatal helicopter crash that claimed their lives as well as the seven other passengers who were on board.
In light of this heart-wrenching week, BET is taking a look back at football players who have testified to the comfort they have found in the scriptures of the Bible.
Below, are some of our favorite inspirational sanctified quotes from several NFL players to uplift your spirit:
“If God is with me, who can be against me.” — Cam Newton
While you may get knocked down at times, God has affirmed that he always has our backs even when we least expect it. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is one of those who was visibly protected by our Savior after a dreadful car accident in 2014. Instead of letting the incident mentally affect him, it only further strengthened his faith in Christ.
“I just can’t stop smiling because God has his hands on me,” Newton said of the near fatal truck accident at a press conference in 2014, according to Breathe Cast. “I’m on somebody’s fantasy league. And I think it’s the man upstairs. It’s great to walk away from something like that. I feel great. I could be feeling way much worse, as we all know.”
Remember, God is always on your side.
“I’m successful in life because I have Jesus Christ inside of me.”— Colt McCoy
We all strive for success, whether that manifests in our relationships, professional careers or other facets of our lives. Though the definition of success is different for everyone, it’s safe to say that some have struggled with feelings of inadequacy when their accomplishments and accolades don’t measure up to those of others.
The truth in Christian faith is that nothing of this world can bring us the same level of fulfillment as that of Christ.
"When your world starts to shake or fall apart, you can lean into Him for security, for safety. You can get through even the toughest of circumstances because God is on your side.” — Tim Tebow
Life’s tough challenges is an inescapable human reality we’ll confront. We all go through adversity but when you lean on God, he just leans in even more to guide you through the perils so that you can emerge even stronger than you initially thought you were.
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“I truly believe in positive synergy, that your positive mindset gives you a more hopeful outlook, and belief that you can do something great means you will do something great.” — Russell Wilson
Just like we have to build our bodies up physically, our mental health should get the same treatment through positive affirmation and reinforcement. Be sure to protect your energy and spirit from negative influences. A positive outlook on life will take you much farther than letting the negativity weigh you down.
My faith will help me make sure that Jesus is the most important thing out of all of this and that He gets all the glory. I’m just a vessel for what He’s trying to accomplish here in this city.” — Trey Burton
We should always make sure to give glory to God every day out of the year and remember we are a part of something that is greater than ourselves, regardless if it's a personal and professional triumph. How we move can be an example to others that are lost. Pay God’s kindness forward with gratitude and generosity.
“Faith in Christ is more than just checking church off the list. It’s a daily sacrifice — a daily death to one’s self. Every day brings on new challenges and your flesh pulls you to fresh struggles each day.” — Jordan Hicks
There will always be an internal struggle between submitting to the will of God instead of the whims of the flesh. As Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks praised above, the battle is only over when you throw in the towel. But true believers know that they can always find guidance in God’s word to confront the struggles we face. Hicks found himself leaning on this faith after his rookie year with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“My moment of true surrender came during my rookie year in Philadelphia. After all those injuries, I was blessed enough to be drafted in the third round,” he said in a blog post published on Sports Spectrum. “It didn’t make sense; I don’t know why they chose me.”As the saying goes, won’t he do it! Believe in God and he can perform miracles.
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“Our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God. He’s given us all talents and abilities, which we use, but ultimately He created us to glorify Himself because He is God and He can do that.” — Benjamin Watson
At times, we may find ourselves worn weary from the trials and tribulations that life throws at us. But, it’s important to never lose focus of what our one true goal is while we are on this Earth and to act accordingly. Don’t let the worldly desires of this Earth distract from your mission. God blessed us with our own unique talents so don’t let them go to waste and be a testament for others to witness.
