Mark Wahlberg has long been one of the only devout Christians left in Hollywood. In a new interview, he’s opening up about how he seeks God’s guidance every day.
Wahlberg Seeks God’s Guidance Daily
“[Prayer] has been a big part of the way I start my day for decades now,” Wahlberg, 52, told Christian Post. “It helps me get through everything, especially to remind me of what I’m trying to do on a daily basis. I’m away from home, I miss my family, so it’s got to start with gratitude.”
“And then also, the guidance and the reminder to continue to do the things that He wants me to do and the path that He wants me to take, because I’ll always have a plan, and He changes that quite often,” he added.
Wahlberg went on to say that while he goes to God for guidance before choosing a film role, he also takes his family into consideration before signing on to any project.
“I can’t help but think that every time I choose a role, is it something [my wife and kids] would want to see me in?” he revealed. “Not so much would they approve, because … I haven’t played a bad guy for 20-something years, and I just did that recently. And I think my kids and wife will get a kick out of it, but I definitely think about if it’s something that they would enjoy seeing.”
Related: A-List Hollywood Star Mark Wahlberg: ‘I Do Not Deny My Faith’
Wahlberg Reflects On Father Stu
As a devout Catholic, Wahlberg has spent much of the past few years working on projects that align with his own values. One of these projects was the 2022 movie Father Stu, which he both produced and starred in. This film was based on the true story of Stuart Long, a bad-boy boxer-turned-priest who found God and remained devoted to him despite facing obstacles from his family, the Catholic Church, and ultimately even his own health.
“[God is] looking for the people who have real experience and can appreciate being touched and given another chance,” Wahlberg explained. “That’s why Stu is so effective. He had an authenticity and credibility when he spoke to people; they knew that he had been in their shoes at one time or another.”
“It’s one thing to be book smart, another thing to have real street smarts and real-life experience,” he continued. “I’ve always found that invaluable when playing roles and trying to be as authentic as possible in my portrayal of parts that I’ve played.”
Related: Mark Wahlberg Refuses To ‘Shy Away’ From His Christian Faith – ‘Most Important Aspect Of My Life’
Wahlberg’s Bad-Boy Past Before Finding God
Wahlberg could relate to Stuart Long’s bad-boy past, as he was a troubled teen himself before becoming an A-list Hollywood star. In his youth, Wahlberg even spent 45 days in jail for assaulting two Asian men in an attempted robbery turned hate crime, and he also battled a cocaine addiction that turned him into “an absolute train wreck.” It wasn’t until Wahlberg found God that he was able to turn his life around.
“All the real-life things that I have been through I want to share,” he concluded. “And I want to let people know that, you know what, it’s OK. Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. So we’re trying to encourage people and let them know that we’re not giving up on them. Nobody’s beyond redemption.”
As one of the only openly devout Christians left in Hollywood, Wahlberg’s voice is needed now more than ever. We applaud him for continuing to use his platform to spread the word of God!
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