Pray First and Everyday

As I call you each day this week to live missionally, I bet you are a bit overwhelmed and anxious about the thought. Even if I repeat every day that missional living is more about availability than ability, that it is about being faithful more than knowing all the facts, we still get nervous.

Here is what I want you to do to combat that anxiety: PRAY!

Pray for God to work in and through you with this calling to missional living. Don’t attempt to muster the courage on your own!

This is not only my recommendation; in fact, this is what Paul encourages:

Colossians 4:2–6

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

One thought to consider:

What might happen if you prayed for the people in your mission field more than you tried to “say the right thing” to them?

Action Step:

Pick one person you are around that you care about. From now until Sunday, pray one specific thing for them each day (e.g., peace at home, healing, openness to God, strength in a struggle). Let prayer do the heavy lifting.