Envoy Rally Point - Month 5, Week 1

Theme: The Lifeline of PrayerGuest Speaker: Sam McCabe

Resources: Links to Follow Sam: YouTube Link - Spotify Link - Instagram Link

This week’s rally call created exactly what it was meant to: Space.

Not space for content, not space for performance, but space for listening, reflection, and abiding with God.

As we continue through Month 5: Spiritual Disciplines, we returned to the foundational truth that prayer is not an accessory to discipleship. It is the lifeline that sustains it.

Our anchor scripture for the week framed everything that followed:

“Abide in Me, and I in you.” - John 15:4

Prayer, we were reminded, is not primarily about asking God to bless what we are already doing. It is about remaining close enough to be formed, so that our desires, rhythms, and obedience are shaped by Him rather than pushed by us.

Hidden Obedience & Real Formation

Sam shared honestly from his own journey as both a preacher and a musician, roles that naturally place someone in visible ministry spaces.

Yet some of the most formative seasons of his discipleship, he reflected, came not through platforms or momentum, but through hidden obedience.

He spoke about recent decisions to step back from social media and metrics, choosing instead to prioritize family, faithfulness, and attentiveness to what God was actually asking of him. Not because those things were sinful - but because they were quietly crowding out presence.

The question that surfaced repeatedly was simple and unsettling:

Who are we becoming when no one is watching?

Faithfulness, Sam reminded us, is often forged away from applause, where obedience is quiet, costly, and unseen.

Prayer When the Feeling Fades

A central theme of the evening was honesty about spiritual dryness.

What happens when:

Prayer feels flat

Worship feels costly

Ministry feels heavy

Inspiration doesn’t come

Sam spoke candidly about learning not to measure faithfulness by emotional intensity. Drawing from both Scripture and church history, he emphasized that prayer is not always spontaneous or expressive, and it doesn’t need to be.

Sometimes prayer is simply showing up.

He shared how structured prayer rhythms - such as using The Daily Office, have helped him remain grounded during seasons when motivation is low. Not as a replacement for heartfelt prayer, but as a way of pressing into obedience when feelings aren’t leading.

Prayer, in this sense, becomes an act of trust rather than expression.

The Fruit God Values

As the conversation turned toward fruitfulness, Sam named something the modern church often struggles to count:

Humility.

Not self-deprecation, but a growing contentment with obscurity, collaboration, and faithfulness without recognition.

Drawing from Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians on the temporary nature of earthly success, Sam reminded us that much of what the world, and even the church, celebrates does not last.

The fruit God forms most deeply is often invisible:

Patience

Humility

Attentiveness

Faithfulness over time

These are not easily measured, but they endure.

Prayer as a Way of Life

One of the clearest takeaways from the night was this:

Prayer is not something we schedule.It is something we live.

Sam described prayer as continuous orientation rather than constant speech, a steady alignment of life with the Spirit of God.

Jesus Himself, Sam noted, modeled this rhythm:

Public ministry

Private retreat

Visible obedience

Hidden dependence

Prayer sustains that balance.

Closing and What’s Ahead

We closed the evening in prayer with Sam and his two Sons, grateful for honesty, humility, and the reminder that abiding is often quieter than we expect, but far more formative than we realize.

If you weren’t able to join live, the recording will be shared here via Substack and it will be on our YouTube channel catalogue and on Spotify.

Next week, we move into Month 5, Week 2: Daily Bread in the Word, where we’ll wrestle with a searching question:

What happens to a disciple who believes in Scripture - but doesn’t feed on it as bread?

An email will also be sent shortly, inviting the group to share prayer requests, both those that can be shared openly and those you’d like carried quietly.

Know that they will be prayed over diligently.

God is with us.

Thank you for drawing near. May the Lord bless your obedience, steady your heart, and fill you with joy as you walk in His ways this week.

I’m glad you’re here.

Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!

Grace and peace,

Sam Johnston

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