Moving Forward: 21 days of prayer that will impact your relationship with God, your church, your community and the world.

© Copyright 2020 Converge. All rights reserved.

Scripture reference: Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New International Version.

Table of Contents

Introduction

START

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

STRENGTHEN

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

BIBLICAL DIVERSITY

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

SEND

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Introduction

A lot can happen in 21 days.

In the spring of 2020, we experienced two events that changed our world in just that time span. It was mid-March when our nation’s leaders began to address COVID-19 in our country. Who would have guessed that 21 days later, the economy would tank, businesses would be closed and most of us would be working from home? Or how about two months later when, over a 21-day span, we heard about the death of Ahmaud Arbery and experienced via video the killing of George Floyd? Our nation will never be the same.

A lot can happen in 21 days as a result of illness and injustice, but I believe even more can happen with righteousness. Think about the 10 days before the first Pentecost, when the disciples were praying and fasting, and then God opened the door for the church to erupt on the scene. They had spent years under the instruction of Jesus, but within days of receiving the Holy Spirit, they began to turn the world upside down. Their impact ripples into our lives today.

Every year hundreds of churches and thousands of people engage in Converge’s 21 Days of Impactful Prayer. During the next 21 days, we ask you to choose to do two things. First, on the days of your choice, take time to replace physical food with spiritual food (fasting). In addition, please read the devotional and ask God to help you live under the instruction of his Word. Then, let the conviction of the Holy Spirit drive you to meaningful action in your life, your family, your community and the world.

This year’s 21 Days of Prayer will focus on our work of starting and strengthening churches together worldwide. Our prayer is God will lead you to a better understanding of his heart for the world and of his desire to see every Christian help people of all colors, classes and cultures meet, know and follow Jesus.

A lot can happen in 21 days. May God give you the wisdom to know the right thing to do and the courage to do it.

Better together,

Scott Ridout

President, Converge

Day 1: Busy, But Distracted

³⁸As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” ⁴¹“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴²but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42.)

Reflections

In his book The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis thoroughly describes distraction and a hectic lifestyle, saying they are tools of demonic forces, used to weaken the Christian’s devotion to God. Is it possible we can get so busy doing ministry that we forget about our first love, Jesus? In the Luke passage, we see Martha busy scurrying around trying to serve all the guests while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. Martha even takes time to share her frustration concerning Mary to Jesus, to which Jesus gives a simple but pointed reply: “Martha, you are worried about details. There is only one worth being concerned about, and Mary has discovered it.”

Challenge

Our church planters need us to be people who sit at the feet of Jesus. They need us to draw near, to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and pray accordingly for them. The prayers of the saints are indispensable in the work these church planters are doing. Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon was once asked about the secret of his great success. He simply said, “My people pray for me.” This is often an overlooked aspect of church planting. It is easy for us to get so distracted with the pace of life, doing ministry, etc., that we neglect taking time with our first love.

Take time to pray for the church planter(s) in your city and region of the country. If there are no church planters in your direct vicinity, pray God will raise up one to come and start a new work.

Prayer

My Father, thank you for the call you have placed on our lives. We consider it a great privilege to be gifted and commissioned into your service in so many different ways. I pray for those specifically called to start new churches in my city/region. I ask that you give them strength and allow them to see your hand working in their lives. Open doors for the gospel to go forward. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 2: Connected

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

⁹“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (John 15:1-11).

Reflections

Life is full of distractions. Some are good because they take our mind away from the stressors of our day or season for even a short time, giving us room to rest. At other times, distractions get us into trouble. They keep us from doing what needs to be done or from becoming the person we can/should become. Even ministry demands can become unnecessary and destructive distractions in our lives. The passage in John reminds us of the importance of staying connected to our life source. Be cautious of allowing demands or distractions to break your connection.

Church planting is demanding. Because of its never-ending demands, it is easy to become anxious and concerned about our laundry list of good things and, as a result, miss the best things. God desires us to be in close relationship with him every step of the way. He knows the best and safest place for us to exist is under his authority. Apart from him, we can do nothing, the church can do nothing.

Challenge

Pray for our church planters. Specifically pray that church planting teams together stay connected to the vine. Pray for oneness and unity as they work toward the mission God has called them to accomplish. Are you living in a close relationship with God? What needs to be added and what needs to go away to maintain a strong connection?

Prayer

As your word reminds us, “apart from you, we can do nothing.” Father, I pray for our church planters and their teams. First, help them stay focused and connected to you as their lifeline. Second, move to bind them together in great unity that will have a lasting impact on their city and surrounding communities. Let nothing distract them from the mission to which you have called them. In the name of Jesus I pray! Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 3: Courage

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should (Ephesians 6:18-20).

Reflections

Martin Luther once said, “Preach as if Jesus was crucified yesterday, rose from the dead today and is returning tomorrow.” In other words, live courageously, knowing our time is limited. In our post-Christian world, it is easy for believers to retreat rather than engage the culture with the gospel. Often, our retreat isn’t due to the lack of opportunity or even lack of training — it’s due to a lack of courage.

Fear within can keep us from living out the calling God has placed on our lives. This is no different in the lives of church planters.

Challenge

Pray for church planters to know the opportunities that exist in front of them and to have the courage to walk the path before them. Pray that every time they open their mouth, they will speak the message of Jesus with boldness.

Prayer

Dear Lord, open doors that seemingly are closed. Give great favor to our church planters and their teams as they venture into the unknown. Encourage them in the midst of their circumstances and give them supernatural courage to take the steps they need to take and to have the conversation that has to happen. May they be bold in the proclamation of the gospel. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 4: Health and Protection

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:10-16).

Reflections

Any time a person or team declares they are starting a church, they are walking onto the front lines of a very real battle. Church planters are under nonstop attacks from the enemy. Jesus said about himself, “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Matthew 26:31). This is true of a local flock as well.

We all have heard stories of or even personally known someone taken down and out of ministry by the enemy. These should cause us to pause and reflect on the spiritual battle waging all around us and within our churches. Satan uses every opportunity, good and bad, to weaken the people who are God’s messengers.

Challenge

Find a church planter and pray over him and his family. Ask God to protect his health and to knock down the flaming arrows of the evil one before they hit the target. Prayer is our wartime walkie-talkie to God, and it is time we call in reinforcements to come to the aid of our brothers and sisters fighting on the front lines.

Prayer

Dear Lord, distraction, discouragement and depression are the enemy’s tools to sidetrack your workers. We ask that you supernaturally intervene in the lives of our church planters. Bring healing where needed. Allow them to stand firm on the front lines and tirelessly push God’s kingdom forward. Grant them rest when needed and surround them with an army of encouragers. Provide financially exactly what is needed, and may we together celebrate the life changes that take place because of these new works.

Prayer Journal

Day 5: Endurance

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:9-10).

Reflections

Joop Zoetemelk won the Tour de France in 1980. The Tour de France is the pinnacle of competitive cycling. It is also the most grueling bicycle race in the world. What most people don’t know about Joop is that he started and finished the Tour 16 times. He finished in second place five times before finally bringing home the trophy. That is perseverance and endurance combined.

How many people lost out on the opportunity to achieve success simply because they gave up too soon? This happens in every area of life: family, education, friendships, work, ministry. Endurance is necessary.

Many pastors deal with issues that bind them and keep them from making the progress they hope to see in their community. Unseen issues are often present and have a way of showing up in health crises, false accusations, financial problems and emotional, marital and even physical challenges. Furthermore, church planters often have large families and an inadequate income.

Challenge

Pray our church planters will have the endurance to continue on, to press forward and experience God’s miraculous power as they carry out the mission God has assigned them.

Prayer

Dear Lord, it is easy to get tired and, in our tiredness, feel we are all alone. Seasons can go by when we feel we are making little or no difference. I pray today that our planters will be stubborn for the work you have called them to. Provide men and women to lift up your warriors’ arms in the midst of their weariness, just as Aaron and Hur lifted Moses’ arms. May our hope be the driver that inspires us all until we see you face to face. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 6: Pray for Your Leaders

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives (Colossians 1:9).

Reflections

The year 2020 undoubtedly was exceptionally challenging for everyone. Physical distancing, high levels of sickness, unforeseen deaths, self-isolation, racial reconciliation, political tension, limits on gatherings are but a few challenges this year. These have been hard on everyone, and your church leadership is no exception. Your leaders have had to navigate through extreme change. They have had to make decisions in rapid succession. They have had to make well-thought-out decisions only to have them undone due to ever-changing conditions. They have had to learn to lead church differently, with no road map and no forewarning. To put it simply, it was and is an exhausting time to lead.

Challenge

Scriptures teach us: Pray for your leaders. Continually pray God fills them “with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.”

Prayer

Holy God, I pray for our church leaders. I pray they will have wisdom in their decision making and courage to do what they believe is your will. I also pray for their health — spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Father, hold them in your arms and keep them encouraged. Lastly, I pray we as a congregation will love our leaders as they make vital decisions for our church.

Prayer Journal

Day 7: Prayer for Your Community

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should (Colossians 4:2-4).

Reflections

You probably have heard a thousand times, or have even said, “The church is not a building. It is the people.” We like our buildings — nothing wrong with that. But we know Christianity is not just a religion. Rather, it is the people of God. You probably also have spent hours talking about how you and your church can reach your community. Never have we had a better time to have a missional mindset. Our buildings are either closed or limited, at best. Now is not a time of “come and see” evangelism. Instead, it’s a time to GO. Your neighbors are hurting, lost, confused and lonely. While everyone is experiencing this to an extent, can you imagine going through this year without Christ? Now more than ever is a time your surrounding community is open to the life-changing truth of the gospel. Ask the Lord how you can show the love of Christ to your neighbor.

Challenge

Colossians 4 asks us to pray “that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.” Look for doors opened by the Lord and ask him how you might respond.

Prayer

Holy God, I pray for my neighbors. I cannot imagine what they are going through without having you in their lives. Show me the open doors. Give me the boldness to love on my neighbors. Give me the wisdom to show them your love and salvation.

Prayer Journal

Day 8: Pray for Your Neighboring Church

Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. ²On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. ³Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me (1 Corinthians 16: 1-4).

Reflections

Some churches actually have thrived during COVID-19. Some are just hanging in there. Some are in a lot of pain. It is easy during stressful times to turn inward and put all one’s time and energy on self-focus. It happens with individuals, with families and it can even happen with churches. To be certain, self-care is vital. It is also healthy for a church to look for ways to serve their neighboring churches. Reaching out is not about competition, nor survival of the fittest. We have fellow churches in pain, and we must not turn a blind eye. Pray God will show your church leadership another church to serve. Perhaps choose one of a different culture for the added benefit of learning from them in the relationship. By the way, if you are a church in pain, this challenge is for you, too. Even in your pain you will be blessed by serving others.

Challenge

Ask God to reveal to you neighboring churches you can serve in relationship and resources. As the apostle Paul once challenged, “Do the same thing I told the Galatian churches to do… put aside money as you have been blessed…I will send whomever you approve to take your gift to Jerusalem.” Converge lives by the motto, “Better Together.” Let us put into action what we have always believed.

Prayer

Holy God, I pray for the churches in our area. Some are crying out to you for help, and you may be calling our church to be the hands and feet of Jesus for them. Open our eyes so that even during our trying times we may be an instrument of your blessing.

Prayer Journal

Day 9: Pray for Family Ministries

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

Reflections

While this has been a confusing time for everyone, it has been especially hard on our children and young adults. They are overloaded with news and opinions on social media. They have been robbed of their sense of normalcy and expectations. Some have even missed out on milestone events such as graduation. Most have watched the protests for racial reconciliation and wondered what their role should be. Our tendency as adults is to want to pray for their protection, to shield them from the world. The apostle Paul challenges youth to serve in a powerful way, “to be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith and your pure life.”

Challenge

Pray for the children and young adults in your church. Pray they will be inspired to be used by God in a mighty way. Pray they will seek God’s thoughts rather than those of social media or others. Pray God will use you to be a mentor to one or more of the youth in your life. Pray as you are guiding them that you too are filtering your thoughts through the word of God.

Prayer

Holy God, I pray for __________ (fill in the names of young adults/children you know). I pray you will guide their steps and help them to filter their decisions through you. I pray you will give them boldness to stand for truth and your love. I pray you will show me who you are calling me to spiritually mentor and grant me godly wisdom for the task.

Prayer Journal

Day 10: Pray for Healthy Systems

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

Reflections

What is the church’s purpose? What is our church’s calling? These are questions we should be asking all the time. If we are truly honest, we really don’t ask. We had our programs and systems we had convinced ourselves were nonnegotiable. They were simply a given. Then the year 2020 flipped the tables on us. Our Sunday gatherings came to a halt. Many of our cherished ministries also came to a halt. The unimaginable happened, yet surprisingly, most churches will come through these challenges fine. Perhaps this season was a gift? Perhaps as we are putting the pieces back together, it’s time to reexamine ministries and systems and ask, “Is each really necessary?” What have we learned during this difficult season? Again, what is the church’s purpose? What is OUR church’s calling?

Challenge

Have we turned some programs once meant for good into something sacred? It is time to really reexamine why we exist as a church and if each ministry truly supports our calling. Is it scary to take an honest look at what was once so familiar and seemingly sacred and to decide if it truly is holding up to God’s word? Absolutely! Let us not forget, though, that “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Prayer

Holy Father, forgive us for taking good ministries you gave us and making them sacred and untouchable. The only thing sacred is you and your word. Help us to reexamine all the parts of our church to see if they truly are the best system to live out our calling. Thank you for the gift of changing times, which help us to realize the only thing consistent and unchanging is you. Remind us that everything else should be regularly examined to determine if it is truly in alignment with your calling for us.

Prayer Journal

Day 11: Times of Testing

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).

Reflections

Did you know a person’s true greatness is seen in adversity? Our failures, disappointments, sufferings and setbacks are the earthly tests that come to reveal who we really are. Prosperity and success are not always good for us. The highest honor or the greatest achievement we can attain on earth is to be in a right relationship and enjoy fellowship with God. The best season to achieve this honor is during a time of adversity. When everything is going well with us, we can be tempted to deceive ourselves and believe we’re spiritual giants. It’s only during a season of adversity that we are most likely to seek God’s face and to rely on his strength for security. The true strength of our faith, our hope, our patience and our humility can only be measured in times of testing.

Challenge

The challenge is to offer and submit ourselves to God without hesitation or reservation, no matter what comes our way. We should strive to bury our self-interests and self-seeking in the will of God and accept adversity as a spiritual process that develops and cultivates our souls.

Prayer

Most gracious and loving God, throughout this day when I am challenged to face temptations and adversities, I know it will be for my own good. Lord, you know what’s best for me. Grant me your wisdom and understanding to accept and embrace my adversities, knowing that my trials and tests only come to make me strong and draw me closer to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 12: Judging My Neighbor

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ³“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (Matthew 7:1-5).”

Reflections

Each of us must strive to be patient and understanding with our neighbors’ shortcomings, just as God and Christ are patient with ours. If we fail to recognize our own faults, how can we expect others to recognize theirs? In our desire to see our neighbors change, we must be willing to contend just as hard to change ourselves. It is not fair or godly to demand others change and then resent it when we are challenged to change. It is not fair or godly to demand others live and behave a certain way, and yet our anger is aroused when our behavior is challenged. In judging our neighbors, we should always use the same love and understanding we use to judge ourselves or that we desire them to use when judging us.

Challenge

To prove our love to God, we must be willing to be patient with our neighbors as they wrestle with their faults. Just as we seek forgiveness and patience as we deal with our faults, we must treat and judge our neighbors with the same forgiveness and patience as they work on their faults. We must be quick to love and not to judge.

Prayer

Most gracious and loving God, teach me today to think well of and treat my neighbors with patience and understanding without judging their faults and failures. Remind me often of my own faults and limitations, so that I may include myself in the prayers I pray for my neighbors. It is my desire to prove my love and gratefulness for you through my loving treatment of my neighbors. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 13: Understanding True Friendship

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you (John 15:12-15).

Reflections

How many friends do we really have who will stand by us when we really need them? How many friends do we have who sacrifice their time to support us? The truth is, no matter how much people say they are with us and for us, we basically live our daily lives alone. We should never overestimate our friendship with others because, sooner or later, we are going to leave them, or they are going to leave us. Truth be told, it is during the middle of the midnight of our lives that we recognize and realize the only true friend we have is Jesus Christ. And he has promised never to leave us or forsake us.

Challenge

All friendships must be predicated upon our love, loyalty and commitment to Jesus Christ and his anointing. A true friend will encourage and admonish his or her friends to grow and glow in the holiness of God and to set an example for others. Anyone who suggests that we sin is not our true friend.

Prayer

Most gracious and loving God, as I go about this day grant me your grace to honor Jesus Christ as my best and holy friend. No one can be a better friend to me than Jesus. When it comes to my earthly friends, Lord, help me not to depend as much on them as I should depend on Jesus. Use me daily to represent your holiness before my friends, and remind me the best gift I can offer my friends is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 14: Keeping a Clean Conscience

…holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith (1 Timothy 1:19).

Reflections

It is our spiritual duty to keep a clean conscience. If during the day our conscience convicts us or objects to anything, we should submit to the warning as a prompting from the Holy Spirit. Our conscience serves as a spiritual alarm from God, and we should never reject it. To do so is to become our own worst enemy, and we eventually will grieve the Holy Spirit to silence. We should strive daily to keep our conscience clear and clean from this world’s contaminations. A contaminated conscience is always afraid and suffers from spiritual distractions. On the other hand, a clear and clean conscience experiences perfect peace even in the midst of trials. We should count it all joy when our conscience is clear.

Challenge

Our conscience is a divine gift from God to alert us to always do what is right. When our conscience warns us about sin, we should never reject it. Rejecting it will only desensitize us to future promptings of the Holy Spirit. A person with a dull conscience will soon shipwreck his or her life.

Prayer

Most gracious and loving God, grant me your favor and strength to maintain a clean conscience. It is my desire to live each hour of each day in total obedience to your word and your way and that I may not shipwreck my faith and dishonor you. I give the Holy Spirit full permission to govern my life and to convict me when I deviate the slightest degree from your holiness. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 15: Helping Others

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ²Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves (Galatians 6:1-3).

Reflections

When we serve and help others, we should always do so for the sake of God and his glory. We are commanded to be good and to do good to everyone. But we are never commanded to sin for anyone under any circumstances. There will never be an excuse for doing what is wrong and is displeasing to God. However, there may be times when we have to place our religious duties on hold like a good Samaritan to assist someone in distress. When this occurs, we are still pleasing and honoring God. If we are not interested in helping others, we are not interested in God. We should always reach out to help others as much as we can. If the person we are helping insists on continuing in the error of his or her ways, we are to pray for them and leave them to God.

Challenge

Each of us has faults and burdens we must bear. We are commanded to bear one another’s burdens, to help one another, to console one another and to warn one another of sin. God expects us to treat each other as he treats us and to serve one another as if we were serving him. When we do, we are representing his unconditional love.

Prayer

Most gracious and loving God, grant me your grace today to perfectly reflect your patience and to desire to reach out to help others. Lord, never let me think more of myself than I truly am. Never let me forsake serving or assisting a falling neighbor. May I be as merciful to them as you always are to me. And let my love for you be proven by my actions toward others. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 16: Sending Matters

The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. ²¹Again 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.

Prayer Journal

Day 17: Sending is Needed

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15)

Reflections

The logic of the above verses is clear and simple. Sending is needed. Still, today 29% of the world’s population have no access to the gospel. They do not know a Christian, have no church near them and have no way to hear of Jesus, even if they wanted to. The world awaits messengers. People with the calling to be messengers need the church to send them. There is no Plan B. If we don’t tell unreached people about Jesus, how can they hear? And, by the way, among this 29% of the world’s population, 70,000 die daily never having heard about Jesus. Sending is needed — urgency is required!

Challenge

The task of reaching the world seems daunting, yet Jesus calls all of us to be faithful — individuals and churches. We each must do our part to see Romans 10:14-15 lived out beautifully. While we are wrestling with whether we will sacrificially send those compelled to go, they are laboring intensely to be where God is calling them to minister. As of this writing, Converge has more than 60 global workers striving to get to the world’s least-reached peoples. They are eager to reach those who so desperately need to hear the gospel of Jesus. What role can you play in sending?

Prayer

Father in heaven, give me eyes to see lost people the way you see them. Help me to be broken by the fact that billions of people still have never heard about Jesus. I’m asking you to do a deep and holy work in my heart so that I love people the way you love them. Show me my part in sending those who are called. Help me to provide “beautiful feet” who bring the good news to those who need it most. I pray this humbly and in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 18: The Sending God

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Reflections

This familiar verse is packed with powerful truths. Don’t let the depth of this well-known passage escape you. God’s love for the world resulted in a profound action of sacrifice. He gave. The God of the universe sent his Son to become the Savior of mankind. In this very act, God presented himself as a missionary God — One who sends his Son into a completely cross-cultural setting to live among us and become one of us that we might have peace with God. The Creator God provides a template for us in his act of sending Jesus. He demonstrates that it must be done, that no price is too big, no pain too great, no people so unreachable and no actions too radical to see the world made right with God. We know and serve a sending God.

Challenge

Stepping into unfamiliar terrain is scary, especially in the realm of relationships and reaching lost people. It is easier to do what we know. It is less stressful to stay in our lane. Yet, we are to live by faith, not by sight. The more we stretch ourselves, the more God’s grace is poured into us to flow through us. Considering God’s radical action, are you are stretching yourself enough, especially in the discipline of sending? What is keeping you from engaging more fully in seeing the lost peoples of the world come to know Jesus?

Prayer

Father in heaven, I am deeply humbled by your sacrifice. Your radical love has transformed my life — your ongoing grace overwhelms me again and again. Thank you, Lord! May your boundless love so capture my soul, imagination and will that I will reflect your sending nature as I live my life here on earth. Please help me become conformed to the image of your Son, who was not only sent but determined to send others that the world may know the gospel. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 19: The Sending Church

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:2-3).

Reflections

The church was young, inexperienced and growing. The Antioch church had things hopping and popping — many new believers, sound biblical teaching, passionate prayer, fasting and an eagerness to find God’s leading so that they could obey. As the church was lost in worship while seeking the Lord, God made a startling revelation to them: They were to send their very best! Not those they would hardly miss, but their strongest teacher and most enthusiastic encourager, which was an essential role in those days. Immediately, they prayed and fasted about this directive — and sent them off. A sending church is selfless, sacrificial and courageous.

Challenge

God’s ways are so different from our ways, aren’t they? We think keeping will get us ahead, while God says giving brings the greatest benefits. We think having control is the mark of true power, while God says serving unleashes our greatest influence. We think holding on — even to people — will give us the leverage to succeed, while God says letting go is the key to living in his will. Are there people in your life you can’t imagine sending off to another place of ministry? They may be the very ones God is waiting for you to send. Are you willing? Are you ready? Are you encouraging them to go?

Prayer

Holy God, I come before you today with a fresh recognition of my weakness. I’m too often caught in the carnal snares of keeping rather than releasing. Would you help me see who you have chosen to go so that I can eagerly encourage them and help send them? Allow me to plant the seeds of becoming a missionary in the strongest and most godly leaders around me. Whether they go to the people across the street or to those far away who need you, help me be a sending friend and sending leader. I pray this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 20: The Starting Point of Sending

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Matthew 9:37-38).

Reflections

Jesus saw a ready harvest. According to his estimation, the size of our harvest will be directly proportionate to how many are sent into the harvest. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to try harder, strategize better, take more lessons on disciple-making or leadership. He tells us to pray earnestly. “Earnestly” means to engage in something with complete focus and attention, expending significant energy to see something happen. Referencing this verse, one of our Converge leaders once stated, “We need to pray for God to wreck lives.” And it’s true! God wants to bring many through a process of ripping away their sub-divine dreams and plans and directing their lives to eternal things the world doesn’t value. Only God can do this. It all begins with our earnest prayer that God will wreck lives and send workers into the harvest.

Challenge

God-sized prayers are exciting, but often overlooked. Urgent needs and pressing situations most often get the bulk of our prayer times. Jesus challenges us to pray for what has captured the heart of God — to pray for more workers to be sent into the “fields” of lost people. God has made it quite simple. Just begin with prayer. Not casual or unfocused prayer. Earnest prayer. Do you earnestly pray God’s agenda regularly? Do you pray big things that align with God’s heart? Are you praying the Lord of the harvest will send workers into the harvest? Will you?

Prayer

Lord of the harvest, I sense you are awaiting my prayers. I don’t completely understand how this works, that the God of the universe longs for my prayers so that workers can be sent. By faith I pray now. I ask you to raise up people I know, people in my church and circles of influence, to be radically gripped by you to step into your chosen harvest fields. Lord, I pray you will send many and, if it be your will, that you will even send me. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Prayer Journal

Day 21: A Closing Prayer

Thank you for participating in Converge’s 21 Days of Impactful Prayer. I pray God has used this time to strengthen your heart for him, the church, your community and the world. I am convinced that during our time together, God has met us in his Word and given us wisdom and courage to navigate this next season. Over the past several years, our church members and global leaders have prayed a fourfold ongoing prayer. As we conclude, I share it with you.

Pray that:

Each One Reach One – That God will allow every person to personally lead someone to saving faith in Christ.

Each One Raise One – That God will equip every person to help someone to grow toward spiritual maturity and become a multiplying disciple.

Each One Start One – That every congregation will be intentionally involved in starting another congregation that will impact a new community with the gospel.

Each One Send One – That in every congregation, God will raise up a person or team that is called to reach people cross-culturally or cross-continentally with the gospel.

The world needs the gospel today more than ever. It needs the people of the church to carry out God’s priorities in the character of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Please join me faithfully in this four fold prayer and, as we move forward from this 21 Days of Impactful Prayer, be willing to be the answer to your own prayers.

I close with the words of the Apostle Paul:

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).

Better together,

Scott Ridout

President, Converge

Converge is a movement of churches working to help people meet, know and follow Jesus. We do this by starting and strengthening churches together worldwide.

For over 165 years we’ve helped churches like yours bring life change to communities in the U.S. and around the world through church planting and discipleship multiplication, leadership training and coaching, and global missions.

We’re committed to starting missionally minded churches until every people group and community has heard the gospel. We start churches that start churches to see lives changed with Christ’s love and truth. Converge provides a clear pathway for you to plant a new church, campus or to multiply your church. We’ve created proven strategies, systems and training all designed to improve your success so that more people will have the opportunity to accept Jesus.

We are rooted in the gospel and the infallible, inerrant word of God and the need for every person to surrender to Jesus for salvation. Our goal is to give every person the opportunity to hear the gospel, say “yes” to Jesus, grow in faith, be equipped to serve and be sent out. We are committed to seeing vibrant churches in every community, state and country in our reach. We want every person to experience a life-changing, personal relationship with Jesus.

Our churches come together around something greater than a compelling mission. What brings us together is Christ’s completed work on the cross. Because of the cross, we have forgiveness from our past, power for our present and hope for our future. As a result, we converge around the cross to take what Christ has done for us and make it known to others.

Connect with us at connect@converge.org or 800.323.4215 to learn more.