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“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”
1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)
What competes with the Gospel as the thing most precious in your life? Is there anything – an attitude, a ministry accomplishment, a material possession, a person, or a duty – that fights for your affection, trying to sit in the place of God? Do you find yourself looking for other ways to be happy, or do you like George Mueller believe that “the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord”?
For some, it might be a temptation to think that effectiveness in our life and ministry comes through catchy phrases like being “relevant”, or having the right program or facilities, or even dressing in a certain way. For others, we might be tempted to believe that effectiveness comes through captivating personalities, good funding, or ministry success. Almost all Christian leaders are under the pressure of “too much to do and not enough time or funding to do it”. Our first priority, however, is to find our joy in God and him alone. If we don’t do this, we not only dishonor God, robbing Him of his rightful place of worship and Lordship, but we also put ourselves in the impossible position of trying to do what only God can do.
When we allow Christ, and his work, to be everything for us, it not only frees us from the race of needing to find the next big ministry trend, but it also produces in us a sweet humility which results in rest, security, and peace. We can rest in Christ’s power instead of cleverly designed programs. We can rest in the knowledge that we are a part of the Body, so we don’t have to compete or keep up. Instead we are free to cheer for and pray for those whom God is using greatly, and encourage and pray for those who feel weak and ineffective. It’s been said that all the resources that are needed for God’s Kingdom to be established in any given place are already there because Christ is there, and the Spirit of God is here. Alleluia!
Today thank God that Christ alone is all we need, and that we are humbled, liberated, and empowered to do the work he has called us to do.
This blog is a part of the Lausanne Global Prayer Focus. We invite you to journey with The Lausanne Movement in prayer throughout the month of May. This journey will be a personal one, and a collective one. It will be focused on the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, his good news for all people.
In week 1, we are focusing on The Message of the Gospel. 
Download a prayer guide for the week, or visit lausanne.org/pray to access the new content daily. You may also enter your email on this page to be sent a weekly email reminder with the new prayer content each week of May. Be sure to select “Prayer” as a Topic Interest.