Discipleship Tips: Keeping Christ CentralSample

A heart of prayer

In today’s devotional, Christie Wilson, HOPE International’s spiritual integration advisor, addresses a key element of keeping Christ central: prayer.

“We can’t do this alone.” As I sat around the table discussing discipleship strategies with field leaders whom I deeply respect, I could not escape this thought. Despite all the practical experience and cultural understanding in the room, despite all the studying of best practices, it was evident that we are not capable of bringing about transformation out of our own strength or knowledge. We are completely dependent on the Lord’s love, wisdom, and transforming power.

We are on a journey as believers. A journey closer into the heart of God as we encounter Him more deeply. A journey to become increasingly prayerful, often learning from the families we serve what it means to truly live dependent on the Lord day by day.

As we go to our Father, we always want to reflect the following heart of prayer:

Desiring to see His Kingdom come. We pray within the larger request that God’s Kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10).

Dependent. We pray out of a desire to depend more deeply on the Lord, recognizing that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). He alone has the power to move in ways far beyond what we could ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20-21).

In faith. We acknowledge that we do not know how or when the Lord will bring His Kingdom, but we pray with faith and expectation that God responds to our prayers. We never mean to presume or demand that God would do things our way but rejoice and trust His will when He works in ways we did not expect (Matt. 17:14-21, John 14:12-14, Prov. 3:5-6).

Aligned with Scripture. We seek to pray for requests that are aligned with what God has already revealed about His will in Scripture.

This prayer effort is one way we step forward in faith, believing that we are totally dependent upon the Lord to bring about transformation in our lives, in the lives of the families we serve, and in the communities in which we live. May you experience the joy of dependence in your life and work as well.