Counting the cost
Our mission is to put on display the true hope of Jesus. One of our key values that will help us accomplish our mission is living relentless in prayer. To live out of this value we want to institute Thursdays as important corporate day of Prayer and Fasting for True Hope Collister. On these days we unite our voices around a central theme connected to our vision and pray together in an effort to discern God’s will for our church.
This week we focus our prayer on counting the cost.
Fasting: Consider fasting a meal and utilizing that time to pray specifically through this guide.
Today’s Scripture: Luke 14:25-33
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Reflect: Why is it important to count the cost of being a disciple? What is God asking of us in regards to our commitment in being his disciple?
Pray: Ask God to reveal to you any areas regarding following him that he wants you to reconsider. Take a moment and sit in that space and write down anything he brings to mind.
Read: Read Luke 14:25-33 again.
Reflect & Journal: Why do you feel that Jesus is so strong with his language in vs 33, “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”? Why does he want such deep commitment?
Pray: After considering this significant commitment, pray and ask God to empower you to live this life of commitment. Ask him for the ability to trust that your way is truly the best way.
Pray over True Hope Collister: Pray that we will count the cost of building and that God will provide us with wisdom and financial provision to do what he has asked us to do.
