How Do I Live on Mission for God In My Everyday Life?

“Beep, beep, beep, beep,” your alarm clock rings. Is it five in the morning already?  You groan as you turn off your alarm clock, feeling as if you could throw it against the wall… 

Before you know it, a whole day has gone by, and another, and another. Soon weeks are flying by, and then months too. 

Thankfully, summer vacation will be here soon. And you’re right, but unfortunately summer flew by too. Now it’s fall again, and you’re back in school, *sigh. *

As you lay awake one night in bed, you begin to wonder, “Is there any purpose to my everyday life?” I mean, you know you’re a Christian, and you know your purpose is to have a relationship with God, but it feels like something is still missing. 

School is okay, maybe even fun, but you know the experience of high school is only temporary.

You enjoy playing sports, but you’ve watched many seniors graduate, never to play their sports again. You know that will be you one day too. 

These thoughts leave you stuck wondering, “Is it possible for me to intentionally live on mission for God in my everyday life?”

I’m here to remind you, that is possible. 

Discipleship: A Life Filled with Purpose

If you’re familiar with my blog, you know that I talk about discipleship and The Great Commission a lot. In previous articles, we’ve discovered that discipleship is about doing life with someone.

Believe it or not, you can begin to experience discipleship in your everyday life. In fact, you’re probably already experiencing it without even knowing it, all you need is a change in perspective. 

But wait, why am I bringing up discipleship in an article titled, “How Do I Live on Mission For God In My Everyday Life?”

It’s because the answer to that question is discipleship.

Now wait just a second. I know you’re probably thinking. “I’m too busy for discipleship. I barely even have time to read my Bible and pray, let alone disciple someone.”

But hang on just a second and hear me out: Discipleship is for every believer, not just a few. Discipleship is how we live on mission for God every day.

Jesus understood that discipleship isn’t something done on the side. Discipleship is a way of life -the way of the life of a believer. 

The Command to Disciple

To not disciple anyone even though you’re spiritually mature enough to do so, is sin, because God’s word clearly tells all spiritually mature believers to make disciples.

I know what you’re most likely fuming on the inside right now. “Lila, I am at school, ALL DAY. There is absolutely no way that it is possible for my life to completely revolve around discipleship, ALL THE TIME.”

But let’s think about something for a minute. As believers, not only are we called to disciple others, but we’re called to be discipled as well.

Remember, “A disciple maker is a follower of Jesus helping others follow Jesus.” -Matt Chandler. 

When you’re at school, in let’s say, math class, your teacher is discipling you to do math in a way that brings honor and glory to God. -That’s a form of discipleship. Your teacher may not even realize it.

When you’re at a sports practice, (yep, you guessed it) your coach is discipling you. And you probably have an opportunity to disciple one of your fellow teammates! 

My point is, discipleship isn’t just about discipling others, it’s the ongoing process of falling deeper in love with Jesus and following him - and through that, encouraging others to do the same. It’s not that hard to grasp how discipleship can, and should, happen in our everyday lives. Discipleship should be our perspective, how we view life. We need to unleash the mind of a disciple maker.

We need to start viewing every day as opportunities for discipleship to happen. Whether it’s siblings, cousins, friends, or teammates, there’s already so many opportunities for discipleship in our lives.

Don’t buy into the lie that discipleship is a part of life, just something we do on the side. -Discipleship is a way of life.

My challenge for you, my reader, is that you would take the time to sit with the Lord in prayer, and ask him how he can make your life the life of a disciple maker and grant you the perspective to see discipleship opportunities in your life every day.