21 Days of Impactful Prayer: Day 16

As we begin the new year, Converge churches and missionaries from around the globe will embark on 21 Days of Prayer. Join us on this prayer journey by reading the daily entries on Converge’s blog, or by downloading your free 21 Days of Impactful Prayer: Moving Forward guide. In addition, you can share daily posts from our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds. Thank you for joining us as we open 2021 in prayer together.

Day 16: Sending Matters

The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:20b-21).

Reflections

After Jesus’ startling resurrection, he appeared for the first time to his closest disciples. It is noteworthy that Jesus’ first statement to them, after settling them down a bit, was, “I am sending you in a similar way that my Father has sent me.” Sending was not only on Jesus’ mind but was critical to the task at hand.

Of course, Jesus later added a goal to his sending strategy — that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Sending matters to God.

Challenge

Jesus certainly prioritized sending as critical to his plan to reach every people group with the gospel. Our modern church culture measures and values many things, such as attendance, budget and small group involvement. These are not bad in and of themselves, but if we lose God’s priorities to our culture’s values, it seems we have faltered in living out declared biblical truth. Is your sending as high a priority as God would have it? Does some realignment need to take place in your mind and ministry?

Prayer

Father in heaven, we praise you for sending Jesus, the Promised One, to give his life as a ransom for many. In my hurried state and cluttered life, I want to be sure I live in alignment with your plan. Help me, Lord, to value sending to the degree you do. Open my mind and my heart truly to understand your mind and heart in this. I want to value lost people as much as you do, whether they are here, near or far. Help me do what it takes to be a vital link in accomplishing your plan in our world. I pray this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.