The Most Important Prayer I Pray Everyday

I don't really like to blog.  It seems like yet another form of narcissism or self promotion.  However, I can't help hoping that it could serve as another way to advance the gospel. This morning in my devotions, I read the same idea from Oswald Chambers:  "God breaks up the private life of His saints, and makes it a thoroughfare for the world on the one hand and for Himself on the other."  When that happens we don't care what becomes of us individually as long as He gets His way for the purpose of His redemption.

Piper has been tweeting about Luther, and the 95 Theses.  Evidently yesterday (Halloween?) was the anniversary of the day he nailed that radical, incendiary document on the Wittenburg Door.  Luther had to decide if his life was more precious than his ideas about the gospel.

Neil Cole started a viral campaign that I have been infected with.  I set my phone/alarm to go off everyday at 10:02am ... and it disrupts my schedule...disrupts my conversations...disrupts my "important" meetings.  And we stop and bow to the One who has all control over advancement of the gospel, and ask, in accordance with Jesus' command in Luke 10:2 (get it?) that God would send out into the abundant fields LABORERS.  He doesn't tell us to ask for leaders, but for laborers.  Laborers aren't thinking about who gets credit or who is in charge.  Laborers are willing to roll up their sleeves, in all kinds of weather, and get their hands dirty for the sake of the gospel.  So I pray for laborers that God would send to Austin--so we can give them a shovel or a scythe, show them how to use it, and then point to a field that needs harvesting. 

As I write this, I think that no one will be inspired by this sort of invitation, unless the Lord of the Harvest sends them.  So everyday at 10:02, I'll keep praying the most important prayer I pray everyday.

Comments

[Glenn Smith]

John, you're much more narcisistic than you realize ;) - we all are, so don't worry about it. You're a gifted writer who has a lot to offer. Give us more! Great post.

[John Herrington]

Re: [Saturate Austin] Glenn Smith submitted a comment to The Most Important Prayer I Pray Everyday.

Glenn, you rock. Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, I have probably just layered on some false humility that is even a deeper level of narcissism. My heart is indeed deceitful and desperately wicked. God knows!