This is a slightly reworked repost of something I first posted in March 2012, a few months after I came to Adventures in Missions fulltime. Although I work for a discipleship/missions organization, much of my time is spent in “normal” job activities. I work on budgets, return emails, answer phone calls. But I remain committed to living as a radical disciple.
I thought about titling this “How to be a radical disciple without going on the World Race”. There are circumstances – such as the World Race – that seem inherently “radical”. The steps of faith, the ministry opportunities, the challenges and the Kingdom impact are all clear. The routines are less settled. The stories and pictures “prove” you are living radically. But what if it is not that clear cut? What if you have to look for opportunities within your “ordinary” life? The desire to be a radical disciple stirs in many of us who live more “normal” lives, constrained by full-time jobs, family commitments, stage of life issues and the like. So how do we live as radical disciples? 
Here are some of my thoughts. This isn’t a full discussion with all the appropriate qualifiers. It’s merely some thoughts from years of wrestling and seeking.
1. Take listening prayer seriously. Make a commitment ahead of time to believe that God will speak to you. Work toward instantaneous obedience when you know it is His voice. Believe He speaks in the little things (“go talk to that lonely person”) as well as the big things (“move to Africa”).
2. Do not disguise fear as wisdom. Be brutally honest. Resist the temptation to dismiss things by saying “I don’t think it is wise to …” when you really mean “I’m afraid to ….”
3. Don’t live self-protectively. You’ll know what this looks like in your own life. Maybe you begin to make decisions that the world might consider foolish. Or when you feel the Spirit’s nudge, you give away more than you think you can afford. But you make a daily choice to listen to Him first and then to trust Him to provide what you need – physically, emotionally, financially and in every other way.
4. Consider whether you want your life to be characterized by supernatural gifting or only by “inherent talent”. Obviously there is a lot of overlap. But I want a ministry in the Kingdom that cannot be explained by my “natural talent”. I want there to be a component that can only be explained by the presence of God. Have the courage to ask for that, knowing that it is like jumping off a cliff.
5. Spend time thinking about the difference between desire and call. I believe there’s a big overlap but I don’t think they are exactly the same. Learn contentment where you are called and ask Him to open your eyes to see why He has you there. Commit to His ministry – even if you would have chosen a different one. Ask Him to align your heart with His in this particular place and this particular season of your life.
6. Ask the Lord to show you where you still hold on to a sense of entitlement. It can be overt (“I’m entitled to a certain lifestyle”) or it can be subtle, the kind of thing you would be hesitant to say out loud (“Because of all I’ve gone through, I’m entitled to have it easier for a while”). A sense of entitlement will rob you of joy.
7. Experiment with doing things anonymously. Being invisible for a season can be stretching and can drive you closer to the Father when your other sources of affirmation become unavailable.
8. Make no assumptions that your “normal” life will stay normal. Small acts of radical discipleship often lead to bigger leaps of faith.
9. Look for opportunities to be generous in non-financial ways. Be generous with praise, with time, with compassion, with little acts of assistance. Learn people's "love language" as part of your generosity to them.
10. Disrupt your routine from time to time. Continually look for opportunities to get out of your comfort zone. Do little things regularly (e.g., spend time with someone you wouldn’t normally spend time with) but occasionally do big things as well (e.g., a mission trip).
11. Admit that boredom is not an option as a lifestyle. If you are bored, ask Him what Kingdom work you are not seeing right around you.
12. Distinguish between appropriate self-care, relaxation or leisure and self-medication, avoidance or numbing behavior. I believe in "down time" and "just fun". I spend time on the couch in front of the TV from time to time. Learn your needs (what nourishes you and refills your tank) but also learn what constitutes an unhealthy or unproductive escape. Brother Lawrence, in The Practice of the Presence of God, says something along these lines: "How sad it is to trade fellowship with God for the trivial." [My paraphrase. After all these years I can't guarantee it's an exact quote.]
13. Recognize that your time – as well as your other resources – belongs to the Lord. And that includes your “job” time, not just your “discretionary” time. Do you feel a sense of call – either directly or indirectly – in what you do? Does your job allow you to accomplish or provide for things related to the Kingdom? Or does it interfere with your Kingdom call? Is there a persistent nudge from the Spirit that things are not right? Is there a nagging sense of "something more" that doesn't go away. Pay attention. Ask the Lord what it means. Is the "location" not right? Is the work/family balance not right? Is timing/season of life an issue?
14. If hard things – job losses, economic shifts – occur, look for God’s hand and consider whether you’re being pushed out of the nest, being forced to do something you wouldn’t do on your own.
15. Hold "things" lightly. This is not an “anti-wealth”, “anti-nice things” statement. It is about availability, freedom and flexibility, about not blindly buying into our culture's view of consumerism. Be ready and willing to sacrifice "things"- if called to – for the greater joy of serving the Kingdom.
So, what have I missed? Any thoughts that should be added to the list?
What a great post, Betty. This is a central tension in our lives and ministry in the developed world. How we manage the tension is foundational to a dynamic walk with the Lord.
Thank you Betty for this post. Pushing me again!!
Betty –
This post is filled with God’s wisdom (and I’m pretty sure that much of it was learned “the hard way”, right??). There is a lot here to apply to the life of parents of World Racers who may be feeling like their children are living radically for the Lord but that it is too late for them to do that or who aren’t sure exactly what that may look like in mid-life. Thank you for writing this!
Bev