Prayer, Scripture, and Submission are the Starting Point of God’s Mission
This short video introduces the first foundational step in joining God’s mission: learning how to walk with God personally through prayer, Scripture, and submission to His will.
In it, I explain what it means to work together with God (2 Corinthians 6:1), why we’re warned not to receive God’s grace in vain, and how surrendering our lives to God is the starting point for true discipleship and lasting impact.
God is on mission to reconcile all things to Himself through Jesus Christ — and He wants us to be part of that mission.
That statement alone changes how we think about our lives, our faith, and our purpose. Christianity is not primarily about finding my mission or fulfilling my dreams. It’s about discovering what God is already doing and learning how to walk with Him in it.
So what is God’s mission?
God’s Mission: Redemption and Reconciliation
God desires to see people redeemed.
He desires to bring the world back into relationship with Himself.
In 2 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul explains that through Christ, God is reconciling the world to Himself and calling believers to live as His ambassadors. Then in the very next chapter, Paul summarizes this calling with a powerful phrase:
“Working together with Him…” (2 Corinthians 6:1)
Some translations say co-laboring with God.
That single phrase captures the heart of discipleship. God is not asking us to invent a mission for our lives — He is inviting us to work together with Him in His mission.
But Paul adds a serious warning:
“Do not receive the grace of God in vain.”
That raises an important question.
What Does It Mean to Work Together With God?
Many of us were introduced to the Christian faith through a simple gospel presentation — sometimes a tract explaining the plan of salvation. We were told how to repent, believe, and become a new creation in Christ.
That is good and biblical.
But Scripture makes it clear that salvation is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a new life — a life lived in active partnership with God.
To receive God’s grace “in vain” does not mean grace failed. It means we failed to walk in what grace was meant to produce: a transformed life surrendered and submitted to God.
So where does that life begin?
Step One: Join God’s Mission Personally
Before we talk about loving others or making disciples, everything begins here:
We join God personally through prayer, Scripture, and submission to His will.
After someone comes to Christ, they are often encouraged to:
- Pray
- Read the Bible
- Share their faith
- Be part of a local church
These are not religious checklists. They are how God forms us, aligns us, and teaches us to live under His authority as we walk with Him in His mission.
Prayer: Aligning Our Will With God’s Will
For me personally, prayer often begins with the Lord’s Prayer.
I regularly pray:
“Father in heaven, Your kingdom come.
Your will be done — not my will, but Yours.”
That prayer is an act of surrender and submission.
It is saying, “This is no longer my life to control. It belongs to You.”
That aligns perfectly with what Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 5:
- The old has gone
- The new has come
Jesus gave His life for us — and now, we give our lives to Him.
Scripture: Letting God’s Word Shape Us
Along with prayer, I spend time reading and praying God’s Word. Scripture does not just inform us — it transforms us. It reshapes how we think, how we live, and how we understand our role in God’s story.
When prayer and Scripture work together, our hearts slowly move from asking God to bless our plans to joyfully surrendering to His mission.
Submission: Where Mission Becomes Real
Many believers want purpose, impact, and fulfillment — but without submission. Yet mission without submission always turns into self-effort.
True discipleship begins when we:
- Submit our will in prayer
- Submit our thinking to Scripture
- Submit our lives to God’s authority
This is exactly what Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 5:
- The old life is laid down
- A new life is received
- And a new identity is embraced
Jesus gave His life for us — and now, we give our lives to Him.
Start Here
God is good.
God has a plan for your life.
But His plan does not begin with activity — it begins with submission.
Before you try to do more for God…
Before you worry about your calling or impact…
Start here.
Join God personally through prayer, His Word, and submission to His will.
Learn to walk with Him.
And let Him lead you into His mission.