Actor Reveals Journey From God-Hater To Man On A Divine Mission
Actor Denzel Washington recently shared his spiritual journey and insights with the University of Colorado Boulder football team, led by coach and NFL legend Deion Sanders. Speaking via video conference, Washington opened up about his transformation from being disconnected from God to becoming a devoted follower of Christ.
In a YouTube video posted Thursday, Washington, who had recently been baptized and received a ministerial license, began by saying, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in God’s sight.” He described himself as a man of faith who had experienced various phases in his spiritual life, ranging from devout belief to rejecting God. “I hated God at one point,” he admitted, “but through it all, God has had patience with me. That’s what grace is.”
Now 70, Washington told the players that everyone has unique gifts and a purpose beyond their current talents. “God didn’t put you here to just play football,” he explained. “Football is a gift, but it’s not your life’s purpose. One injury could end that career, but your God-given potential remains.”
Reflecting on his own path, Washington shared how he stumbled into acting during his junior year of college after bouncing between different majors. “I never planned to be an actor, but I discovered it was my God-given talent, and through my career, I’ve realized it’s my purpose,” he said. However, Washington emphasized that his true calling is to spread God’s message. “God put me on this planet to preach, not to act,” he declared.
He also recounted a pivotal moment when a woman in his mother’s beauty salon predicted his future, saying, “You’re going to travel the world and preach to millions of people.” Washington suggested that speaking to the football players that day was part of fulfilling that prophecy.
Washington then reflected on his upbringing and shared deeply personal stories, including how he could have ended up in prison like some of his closest friends. “Only by God’s grace, I didn’t end up there,” he revealed. “I was involved in drugs at a young age, but that wasn’t God’s plan for me.”
During a Q&A session, Washington told the players that God had found him long before he found God. He recounted a specific incident when he nearly got caught using drugs in school but narrowly avoided punishment, which he saw as a sign of divine intervention. “That moment was God’s way of showing me His love and protection,” Washington said.
As he reflected on his spiritual journey, Washington admitted that even after being filled with the Holy Spirit in the 1980s, he struggled with worldly temptations. “I still wanted to party and chase women,” he confessed, “but I’ve left those things behind.”
He reminded the athletes that faith is not a competition and that no one is closer to God than anyone else. Washington concluded his message by advising the players to start their day with quiet reflection. “Just take two minutes each morning to sit in silence, breathe, and listen,” he encouraged.
Washington’s testimony served as both an inspiration and a reminder of the importance of purpose, faith, and grace in their lives beyond the football field.