As this week of prayer and fasting comes to a close, something powerful has happened in your spirit. When we slow down, empty ourselves, and draw near to God, we begin to see more clearly what beats within His heart. And here’s the truth: the more we abide in Jesus, the less our lives become about us—and the more our hearts turn outward to others. Deep communion with God always leads to deep compassion for people.

The Great Commission wasn’t given to the spiritually elite—it was given to everyday disciples whose lives had been transformed by being with Jesus. When we truly know Him, we cannot help but carry His mission. As our hearts become aligned with His, we begin to notice the hurting, the overlooked, the marginalized, the disconnected, and the unreached. Fasting breaks the grip of self-focus, and prayer opens our eyes to the needs around us. And the needs are great—both locally and globally.

Right here in our own city, there are single moms struggling to keep their homes together, children who go to bed hungry, widows who feel forgotten, and people battling addiction, loneliness, and hopelessness. There are neighborhoods that need the light of Christ, schools that need encouragement, and workplaces ripe for the gospel. Loving our city is not optional for the people of God—it is foundational. 

But God’s heart also stretches far beyond our borders. As a church, we have strategic mission partners in Cuba, Ireland, Israel, Nepal, and Zimbabwe who are faithfully preaching the gospel, caring for the poor, strengthening the church, and reaching people who may otherwise never hear the name of Jesus. They stand in spiritually challenging, culturally diverse, and often physically difficult places—yet they go with boldness because the love of Christ compels them, and that same love must compel us.

As you end this fast, ask yourself: “How will I leverage my life for the sake of the gospel this year? How will I move from comfort to calling? How will I go, give, pray, and serve so others can encounter the hope I have found in Jesus?” You may not be called to get on a plane for every nation—but you are absolutely called to play a part. You can pray daily for our partners, give sacrificially to advance their work, join a short-term mission trip, support outreach initiatives in our city, serve the vulnerable, or simply open your heart and hands to the people God has already placed around you. Is your heart burning yet? The Lord’s is—burning for the lost, the unreached, the broken, and the forgotten. The closer you get to the Father’s heart, the more you care about what He cares about.  So today, don’t let this seven-day journey end with you… let it flow through you. Let your renewed hunger for God become a renewed passion for His mission. Step into the Great Commission with fresh fire. Love boldly. Serve generously. Pray continually. Give sacrificially. Go courageously. 

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