Day 17

John 17:18

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

One of the themes that has surfaced again and again throughout these 21 days is the idea of belonging. We are wired for community. There is something within each of us that longs to belong to something meaningful and life giving. Ultimately, that longing finds its home in the body of Christ, under the headship of Jesus.

But there is also a tension we feel. While we are created for Christ centered community, we still live in the world and move among people who do not share our faith. If we are not careful, that tension can lead us to one of two extremes. We either retreat into comfort and shelter, or we blend in so much that we forget why we are there in the first place.

Jesus gives us a different framework in John 17. He makes it clear that His followers are not meant to be of the world, but they are very much sent into it. That distinction changes everything. We are not drifting through life. We are not simply managing relationships. We are on assignment.

A mindset I adopted a few years ago has helped bring that reality into everyday life. I began praying throughout the day as I moved from one moment to the next. Before walking into a grocery store, I would pause and ask if there was someone who needed encouragement. Before stepping into a meeting, I would ask how I could represent Christ well in that space. Before heading home, I would pray for awareness of how to love and serve my family faithfully.

Nothing in the day is accidental. Every interaction becomes an opportunity. When we live with the awareness that we have been sent, life shifts from simply moving from meeting to meeting into living from assignment to assignment. Ordinary moments take on eternal significance when we invite God into them.

Jesus did not pray that we would be removed from the world, but that we would be faithful within it. Being sent does not mean being loud or forceful. It means being intentional. It means living with open eyes, listening hearts, and a willingness to be used wherever God places us.

As you continue these final days of prayer and fasting, consider what it looks like to carry this posture forward. You are not just someone who belongs to the church. You are someone sent by Jesus into the world. Every day is filled with moments that can be used for His purposes when we are attentive and available.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for sending us into the world with purpose. Help us live with awareness and intentionality in every interaction. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, teach us to see our lives not as routines to manage, but as assignments You have given us. Lead us, use us, and help us represent You faithfully wherever we go. Amen.