30 Days of Prayer - Day 23: Who is Jesus to me?

This entry is part 23 of 23 in the series 30 Days of Prayer

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. 1 Peter 2:7

What is precious?

I’ve been pondering this word in my devotions this week while looking at the current difficult circumstances of my life.

Are the challenges I face now worth the price of my calling to follow my Savior?

Is following Jesus worth it?

Some of these challenges are the direct result of launching this ministry to an international level in the Americas.

Hours of travel on all sorts of transportation: by planes, trains, buses and cars.
International travel to 6-7 countries each year.
Living by offerings, monthly support, and conference fees.
Teaching in dangerous places where personal safety is not guaranteed.
Leaving my house at 4 am to teach all day and get home by 2:30am via bus
Learning to communicate, preach and teach in Spanish as a second language.

Are these challenges worth the price of our calling to follow my Savior?

Yes.

My relationship with Christ is the most precious thing in my life. Obedience to His calling brings our family joy.

Seeing the fruit of this calling brings with it a deep reward that is indescribable.

When I see people come to faith in Christ
When a person pulls me aside and tells me how they havve been impacted by our teaching.
When pastors send me baptism pictures because they attended my conference
When Young Life Central American leaders help others discover what we’ve taught them.
“When people ask me “How can I start following Jesus too?” It’s all worth it.

Yes, Jesus is precious to me.

Why is Jesus precious to you?

Jesus may be precious to you because He has forgiven you.

Jesus may be precious to you because He is guiding you in this life.

Jesus may be precious to you because He has healed you.

Jesus is Pastor, Savior, Friend, Healer, Redeemer, Friend, Bread of Life, Lord of All.

What image of Jesus speaks to you most deeply? I bet there is one image of Jesus that speaks to you more than all the others.

That can help you answer the question that my friend Easum has asked:

What is it about your relationship with Jesus that your friend can’t live without?

Action for today:

In your journal, write down 3 of your favorite worship songs. Find the lyrics and take the time to write them out in your journal.
If you have easy access to the music, sing them as an act of worship.
Write down the phrases that move you, give you goose bumps, or at times, brings worshipful tears to your eyes.
Describe what those phrases mean to you, what is it about those phrases that move you.

Today’s prayer

Lord, You are more precious than silver.
Lord, You are more costly than gold.
Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds
And nothing I desire compares with You

Lord, reveal Yourself to my friends. You are a precious cornerstone to me, and I pray that they would come to find You just as precious as you are. Help me to find ways to talk about You with them that give You all the glory for how beautiful You are to me. You are mighty to save, and You can reveal Yourself to my friends in such an undeniable way that they will want to follow You.