I have a friend and mentor who was sharing how he has taught himself the habit of praying for a missionary family when he washes his hands. That was a few years ago, and so I’ve pondered how COVID has increased these prayers – and how God has answered them!
I like the principle involved in this: that ordinary, daily activities can prompt prayer. So far, when I make coffee for my wife in the morning, I pray for a family in the church. When I make scrambled eggs for breakfast (which often happens), I pray for another family in the church. As I drive around and see a car similar to one driving by someone in my church, I pray for them.
For 2022, I want to apply this with thinking about the Gospel. I’ve noticed that I need to remind myself daily of this good news. Because I’m prone to wander into sin. I’m prone to forget what is of first importance. To neglect the Gospel brings great harm to my soul. But focusing on the Gospel brings great joy, peace, and direction to my life. In other words, the more I focus on the Gospel and repeat it to myself, the more my life flourishes – which is a great benefit!
Plus, there is so much room for exploration in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Take, for example, John 3:16: God so loved each and every person that He sent His perfect and beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place so that each and every person who believed in Jesus Christ would not die, but have eternal life.
That is deep! It starts with God’s amazing love! And for every person, no matter how sinful they have been or currently are. Including me. And how is it that Jesus should die in my place? Eternal life is not just about life without end; it’s about the highest quality of life because it is life connected with the eternal God. Each of those is worth pondering.
How much would my life change if I often repeated the Gospel to myself? For one, I’d live more with the sense of God’s presence. I’d be quicker to hear His Word, trust Him, and obey Him. If an opportunity comes up for a Gospel conversation, I’m ready. Thinking through my salvation by God’s grace will cause me to be more loving and gracious to others – whether family, church family, neighbors, or strangers. Finally, I often stress about urgent needs, and while these are needs, repeating the Gospel would remind me that life is more than just the here and now immediate. There’s also eternity!
I don’t yet know how I’m going to go about this. I’m doing some reading on the Gospel, and on forming habits. And that’s why it’s a prayer for the year. It’s something I want to see happen, but I don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle in place to put it together right now. But I’m curious to see how God will answer this prayer!