Our team of six spiritual directors from Colorado and Texas met up in Kigali, Rwanda with Rwandan ministry partners bringing to fruition months of preparation. The joy of partnering together in person exhilarated our souls. Together, we partnered with a dream from God to bring soul care to dedicated Rwandan ministers and fellow workers in the Kingdom of God. Our partnership reveals the gift of collaboration within the body of Christ.
Partner – To clasp hands, heads, and hearts in order to live a more big, broad, and beautiful story.
Throughout Scripture we see the impact of partnership. Our triune God partners together with each distinct person of the Trinity employing unique and complete ability (John 15-16). Jesus partnered with the disciples to preach the nearness of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 10). The apostle Paul collaborated with many (Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Luke, Lydia, Priscilla, and Aquila) to spread the Truth of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:5). Collaborating with partners reflects the heart of God.
In God, we see the power of partnership. Together, the Father, Son, and Spirit experience presence. As One, God communicates and provides from His infinite resources. When we partner with others, we notice the power of God. Sharing a common vision of the Kingdom of God with others, we experience presence with one another, prayer covering, and provision flowing from the abundance of God. Partners in the gospel enlarge our single stories and deepen the beautiful handiwork of God.
I wrote this Prayer of Partnership for you and for me. Whether you are sent to go or stay at home, we unite to further gospel proclamation both close to home and around the world. We need each other. I invite you to pray this with me.
God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, our triune God: Father, Son, and Spirit – Thank you.
Thank you for designing all things for our good and Your glory. Although you do not need us, you invite us to partner with you. Thank you.
You are faithful, trustworthy, kind, and true.
You are King, Savior, and Friend. You are Life Everlasting..
Revealing Your workmanship, You place within each of us longings, passions, and gifting. Thank you for creating us in Your image – to reflect you. We dedicate our being to Your intentional care. We co-labor and co-create with you. Thank you. O Lord, permit us to enjoy co-laboring alongside you to love others as you love us. Draw all people to Yourself.
Triune God, by your Spirit, we release ego, selfishness, and personal comforts. We embrace humility, generosity, and surrender. Help us not think too highly of ourselves, but partner with others in humility and generosity.
We fix our gaze upon You. We follow Your gaze. Fill our hearts with Your compassion and kindness. Lead our bodies into cooperation with our human limitations. Align all of who we are with You. Empower us to serve You as You through Christ served us.
Instill in our souls love for You and obedience to Your ways. Grow our trust in Your timing and path. We declare dependence upon You. Let our partnership with You inform the way we partner with others.
Be our Light. Be our Guide. Be our Leader.
Thank you, O Lord, for showing us community. We see how you – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – partner together. We feel grateful for community found in family, friends, neighbors, and ministry companions. Thank you for the community of the world that you invite us to love and serve.
Unite our hearts to partner together to advance Your Kingdom on earth and in heaven. May our hearts remain tender to needs both close to home and far away. Fill our minds with the mind of Christ. Show us Your ways. Guide our hands and feet as we actively walk in Your ways, working in service with You.
Bless the synergetic energy that connects us within humanity. Let the fruit of Your Spirit overflow from within us onto others. Help us listen well, share boldly, release gifting, direct passions, and delightfully serve you together.
Thank you for modeling partnership. Please spur us on by your Spirit to partner with you first and then with others second. May we embody the totality of who we are in You as we co-labor with others. Be magnified, O Lord.
We love you God Almighty and faithful Companion!
In the matchless name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for His glory alone,
Amen.
This week – – –
Reflect. With whom do you clasp hands, heads, and hearts in order to live a more big, broad, and beautiful story? With God, hold this question. Who comes to mind? Consider people and organizations. In what ways do these partners contribute to a bigger, broader and more beautiful story, both in your life and theirs? Reflect with the Holy Spirit as your companion.
Request. Pray the Prayer of Partnership again, slowly. Notice what stirs within your own soul. Talk with God about what you comes to your awareness. To what does God invite you? How does God draw you towards any changes connected to your collaboration with others? Pray for yourself and those with whom you partner, giving thanks to God.
Receive. Take in Jesus words of partnership. How do their feel to your soul? In what ways does God draw you to partner with Himself? : “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20) and ” Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:12-13).
Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
Philippians 1:3-5 – I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
John 15:14-16 – You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Tony Evans.Stronger Together, Weaker Apart: Powerful Prayers to Unite Us in Love. Eugene, OR. 2020.
Dustin Willis and Aaron Coe. Life on Mission: Joining the Everyday Mission of God. Chicago, IL. 2014.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Chris Tomlin. Together. Click here to watch & listen.
Resound Worship. Song of the Trinity. Click here to watch and listen.
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
July 13-21 – Kigali, Rwanda – Soul Care Retreat and Training
August 3-7 – Littleton, CO – Denver Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Cohort
August 13-17 – Lincoln, CA – Visit my parents and siblings
🙏 If you would like to partner with me through financial giving, click here to give a tax-deductible gift to The Soulcare Anchoress Fund.
Thank you! 🌷
To read Spigots written since 2018, click here: The Spigot