What I’m about to share with you will sound so easy, you might wonder, Can it possibly be that simple?
Also, this resolution is very powerful. It’s powerful first, because you’re asking God to do something in and through you that you know He wants to do. Second, this resolution is so powerful because of the leverage it brings about in your whole life and the lives of others.
Ready? Here it is…
Every day ask the Lord to use you to represent Him well to others through your life and words.
Okay, I know that you know this, but it bears saying anyway. There’s nothing magical in repeating the words of that prayer. God sees our heart. He knows our thoughts. When we pray a prayer like that, it must come from our heart and we must take the initiative to live accordingly.
I started praying that prayer eight months ago and God has been doing some exciting things in and through me. In fact, here are some of the things I’ve seen happen as I pray that prayer each day:
- I start each day with purpose. I live more intentionally.
- God has made me more aware of and in tune with those around me.
- The prayer makes me more dependent on God and expectant to see Him work in and through me.
- He gives me the courage to meet new people and speak with them.
- When He brings someone into my life, I look for ways to show Christ’s love to them.
- I’ve developed some great relationships with new people I wouldn’t have otherwise met.
- I’ve had the privilege of sharing Christ with those who don’t know Him.
- The prayer prompts me to read God’s Word, to live by it and to be ready with answers.
- I’m seeing fresh, new things in God’s Word.
- Praying that prayer has helped me resist temptation and be more patient with others.
- It helps me disciple others just like Jesus asked us to in Matthew 28:18-20.
- I experience the thrill of watching God work in my life and the lives of others.
- It results in more thanksgiving, praise and worship for the Lord.
Trust me, I’m far from perfect—just ask my wife! None of us are perfect, but God wants to use us now right where we are. Sure, He wants to continue to make us more like Jesus, and praying this prayer daily moves us in that direction.
But let me tell you how this little prayer came about. A year ago, I was meeting with a comrade in arms and our conversation prompted me to write a little book, The Simplicity of Disciple-Making and 7 Ways We’ve Complicated It!
I soon recognized that if I really believe what I wrote in that little book, then I had to live it. Well, I do believe it whole-heartedly and I’m making every effort to live it. That’s why I pray this prayer every day.
So, I challenge you to make this one simple New Year’s resolution in 2020:
Every day ask the Lord to use you to represent Him well to others through your life and words.
This is the only New Year’s resolution you’ll need, because it encompasses nearly everything else in your life.
To access free tools and weekly blog posts to help you grow in Christ, go to my website: www.skillsforfollowingjesus.com.
I wish you a Christ-filled life in the New Year!
Rob Fischer