Jeremy Lin News: Star Basketballer Asks for Prayer for Pride, Emotional Issues
While it is Jeremy Lin's job to work on his ball handling, passing and shooting skills, the Charlotte Hornets point guard is letting God help him with pride and emotional issues.
In an email sent to his digital prayer group, the 27-year-old glorified God for helping him work through some of the pride he struggled with.
"First is a praise to God for softening my prideful heart to have recently found supernatural peace and rest, regardless of my circumstances," Lin wrote in the email titled, "Jeremy's Prayer Requests 13."
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"As I start my 6th year in the NBA, I'd say I've enjoyed the first couple months of this season more than any other season, mainly because God is showing me more and more the intricacies of understanding that my identity as a person isn't in my job or performance, but in Him."
Although he has recently been feeling a sense of peace, Lin asked if fans could continue to pray that he maintains that mindstate.
"Please pray that I would stay in this state of mind," he wrote. " As a very emotional person, I know it can be a quick change from being in a great place mentally/spiritually to worrying and being anxious about my life and future."
Lin is making it clear that just because he leads a digital prayer group does not mean that he has a perfect prayer life.
"Prayer that I would strengthen my prayer life. God has been tugging at my heart telling me that I am not the center of the universe," he wrote. "I wake up everyday and think about what I need to do and what I hope to accomplish. Most of my thoughts center around me, but recently I've been reminded that it's not about me, it's about God. I am His servant and vessel. So prayer for me to not be so self-centered and to spend more time praying for other people would be great!"
The Christian athlete went on to offer prayers for his teammates, those participating in his digital prayer group and people affected by violent attacks in places like Paris, Beirut and Syria. Last year, Lin introduced the digital prayer group to fans who receive his prayer requests in an email format every couple of months. Lin said he decided to start his prayer group after a number of his supporters inquired about ways they could intercede on his behalf.
"The journey I've been on has had its ups and downs and I appreciate all of your support throughout. Some of you have asked how to pray for me so I decided to start a prayer group where I can send out requests for those that want to pray and support," Lin wrote on his website last year.
"Please feel free to share with others you think would be interested. So much of what happens is out of our control, but prayer has been a place I have consistently found peace with God."
Earlier this year, Lin spoke to The Los Angeles Times about learning to fuse his spirituality and his sport.
"When I was a rookie, I put myself through mental torment. I can't do that anymore," Lin said in a previous Los Angeles Times report. "So now I'm just growing more as a person spiritually and just learning to surrender it all. It gives me a lot of peace, man."
Lin explained that he "reset" his mindstate during the All-Star game last year, which shifts his focus back to God.
"It's like while I'm playing, I'm reminding myself that regardless of the results, just play, play for God," Lin said. "It seems like very basic, but when you care a lot about the game, you really care about the results, obviously."
For more information about Lin's prayer group, visit his website www.jlin7.com.
