A PRAYER FOR MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES

(inspired by 31 Days of Prayer)

Thank you, dear God, for the power You give us to serve You and others through prayer.  Thank you for brothers and sisters we can pray with, and how that strengthens our prayers. May our prayers to be sharpened with faith. May we be even more faithful in prayer when the answer is slow in coming or when nothing seems to change. Make us responsive to Your Spirit’s prompting to pray for someone or something wherever we are. Help us never forget that You will fill up with Your infinite wisdom and love whatever is lacking in our prayers.

Thank you, dear Father, that You long for every tribe and language, people, and nation to be included in Your family. Stir our hearts for the millions who are still outside Your fold. Break the strongholds of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, atheism, and the great deception that holds the world captive. Work powerfully through those who minister among their people. Raise up mature and effective men and women, young and old, to sow and reap right where they are, including ourselves. Make us ready to follow You, to go anywhere, anytime, wherever You lead.

Show us which mission initiatives, which places in the world, and which peoples You most want us to pray for with growing faith, confident that our prayers will make a difference. Turn, O Lord, many people from the dominion of Satan to Your Kingdom of light.

May Your missionaries be strong in prayer and in the Word. May they always know that they are loved and not forgotten. You are their refuge and strength, their very present help in times of need. May we remain their faithful rope-holders, steadfast and ready, standing shoulder to shoulder with them in prayer. We look forward to sharing the same joy as the sheaves are gathered on that day of harvest at Christ’s appearing, when the government of the whole world will be on His shoulders, and everlasting peace will come to all. In Christ we hope and in His wonderful name we pray. Amen.