How should we pray for ourselves and others? Every day our staff, and the pastors and missionaries who join us, hear an opening prayer shaped by Luke 10:2. ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ We shape our prayers around this verse, to help us remain focused on the task we have been called to. Praying through scripture helps us to be shaped by God’s heart, to have our eyes opened to his work in the world and to be challenged to see how God has placed us to work out his purposes.
We know that when we pray God is not only moving our hearts wherever we are, but he is also directing people’s lives, shaping cultures, opening doors and equipping those he is calling. God’s sovereignty, power and might give us confidence to pray prayers that go beyond our understanding of the means to achieve them, or the cost to individuals and churches to see him fulfil them. Our prayers are to see God raise up people ready to cross-cultures and share the good news. So, let us pray through some of Scripture together to help us broaden our prayers, and move from our day-to-day concerns, to praying for God to reach our communities, churches and every nation.
