Prayer to Have a Servant’s Heart for Sharing Christ

In order to reach others with the gospel, we need to communicate in ways that they understand. This may sound obvious, but it’s easy to stick to familiar patterns. Communicating well means conforming ourselves in some manner to what they need, rather than what we want or think. Doing this requires a heart that’s willing to be flexible.

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Paul was passionate about sharing Jesus, even saying at one point “woe to me if I do not preach the gospel”. This drive led him to do whatever it takes, to the point of becoming a servant to this work such that he changed to become whatever was needed to reach others.

We may or may not need to change ourselves radically to share Christ, but we do need to be open to whatever the Spirit requires of us. Thus, whether or not we really need to change in some way, we do need to have a humble and open heart to the Spirit’s leading.

In other words, one of the most important things we need, and an important starting point, is a servant’s heart.

Heavenly Father, I humble myself before You and ask You to mold me according to Your will to share Jesus with those around me. Give me a servant’s heart to become whatever they need.

Prayer to Walk in Wisdom

There are many reasons to want to walk in wisdom, and Scripture leads us to seek it in many ways.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV)

In Colossians, Paul asked for prayer that God would open a door for him to declare Christ and that He would give Paul the ability to speak it clearly.

Right after that, Paul instructed the Colossians to walk wisely toward outsiders, to make the best use of time. As a follow on, he instructed them to speak graciously.

It’s interesting to note that the reason for behaving this way is so that the Colossians would know how to answer. Given the context, it’s most likely that the reference is to sharing spiritual truths. Of course, this echoes Peter’s statement in 1 Peter 3:15 about always being prepared to give a reason for our hope, but Paul brings in the importance of behavior before outsiders as part of our witness.

Considering the importance of evangelism, this should remind us that we need to take care not to quench the Spirit’s work in reaching others for Christ by being poor representatives of God’s love.

Father, open my eyes to any area where my walk before outsiders may harm the cause of the gospel. May Your Spirit live out through me such that my actions and words point to Jesus.