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Presented by Lauren Stibgen
Have you ever felt like you aren’t doing enough? Maybe you are like me, wondering if what I do everyday matters for the Kingdom of God. I know I don’t feel equipped in the way the church sometimes calls others to mission trips. I would sometimes wonder what was wrong with me. Why didn’t I feel an urgency to jump on a plane and bring water to a village in Africa or head to a remote village in South America to help in an orphanage? These are big deals to God!
I started to think about missional living in the places I spent the most time. For me, it was at work and at home. Before I started to focus on bringing the gospel to the world, I thought about what I was doing within the context of where I was spending the most time. And then I was honest with myself. I wasn’t living missionally at all. Much of my gospel thinking was a self-focused exercise. I was passionate about Jesus, but it was an internal passion.
I started by setting out with one word: bold. Ephesians 6:19-20 inspired this in me.
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should (Ephesians 6:19-20).
Paul declared this verse from prison, but I am free! This meant I needed to step out of my comfort zone and not only learn more about how to be a better disciple for God, but to choose specific situations to be bold with my faith at work.
I also realized I couldn’t do this without the support of God and the Holy Spirit, but also that I was equipped with others that wanted to share in a discipleship journey just like me. Community with other believers has served as an encouragement and a deep opportunity for mutual uplifting and development.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).
What has followed is a rich community of women who lean in and pray for each other and encourage each other to be bold with the gospel in their work lives.
In the coming days, you will hear about Jennifer, Cathi, Tracy, and Paige. Each one of them is on a mission to share the gospel at work. And, while they all share in their foundations of success, God’s Word, the Holy Spirit and prayer empower them to be bold!
I hope you will be encouraged to be on a mission right where you are this week. God has you right where you need to be!