Day 20 National Prayer Focus | Build Bridges to Him Part 2 with Lauren Kirkham

CAPTAIN LAUREN KIRKHAM, Associate Corps Officer - Bendigo (VIC)

DAY 20 NATIONAL PRAYER FOCUS 2022
It’s no coincidence that Jesus taught through story. Through parable after parable (for example, Luke 15:3-32), he ultimately tells stories that meaningfully connect us to God’s great love story for us and how we can encounter God at work in the world through the way we respond to others.

I’ve often doubted my own story – thinking it wasn’t big enough, important enough or dramatic enough to transform the lives of the people around me. However, my story is human and in a deeply vulnerable way. When I share my faith struggles and victories with others, something remarkable happens: connection.

People relate to stories. Story is engrained in every living and past culture. Enveloped in every story is something that any soul can identify with, whether it be doubts, questions, feelings or needs. When we share stories, we cultivate meaningful connections and build a bridge for the gospel to reach others.

Ultimately, we tell our stories through the way we live. “People need to see the gospel in you before they hear the gospel from you.” What better way for people to see the gospel than for us to be living books, actively working and sharing with one another?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. What stories/testimonies have you heard that hold meaning for you?
2. Who do you know who lives their life in such a way that encourages you to follow Jesus?

Excerpt from The National Prayer Focus Salvos Field Guide daily devotions.
The Salvation Army Australia’s National Prayer Focus 2022 is based on the book Jesus Centered: Focusing on Jesus in a Distracted World by Steve Brown. The Salvation Army Australia’s National Prayer Focus 2022 will be a powerful time of connection, rejuvenation and joy as we seek God and seek good together. The National Prayer Focus ‘Salvos Field Guide’ daily devotions and corresponding nightly online meetings will provide a deep and valuable prayer resource as we walk forward into the future.