Our Father,

By your gracious work, by your doing, we belong to you. We have tasted and seen that you are good. We have had our eyes opened, our hearts renewed. We have been brought out of darkness and into glorious light. We have been brought from death to life by the saving work of your Son through your Spirit. We do truly rejoice to know you.

But O God, may we not stop there. Might our slothful ease, our cowardice, our comfort, our lethargy, might those be overcome by your grace as well. Forgive us for when we have idolatrously loved comfort. Forgive us for idolatrously loving ease, for idolatrously wanting the easy, painless, sacrificeless path. Forgive us for when we have made excuses for not carrying out our mission.

So, we pray that we might we take up this mission with untiring, renewed zeal, with devotion, with ambition – might we go and make you known where you are not known.

Might we go to our families, our neighbors, our co-workers, to strangers we meet near and far, to the nations – might we go for the sake of your name, for your renown – to see you worshipped where you are not, to break the unhindered rule of other lords.

Might we go bringing the hope of the gospel to this hopeless and dying world. Might we give our lives proclaiming that Jesus died and rose.

Might we send and be sent to labor for your sake, to toil with untiring zeal, to fearlessly proclaim the name of Christ.

You have promised to be with us, to be our refuge, to be our fortress, help us to believe you. To have confidence, courage, conviction, compassion that compels us to make disciples of all nations near and far.

Lord, we renew our pledge to carry out the mission that you have given us.

Make us faithful. Make us fruitful. Make us fearless. Make us to see that what we give up for you is nothing in comparison to gaining Christ, that our sacrifices pale in comparison with His. Might the joy of seeing the lost saved, the joy of seeing your glory magnified, overwhelm the minor sorrows of the sacrifices required.

Help us run the race, carry out the mission you have entrusted to us. For your glory through Christ we pray, amen.