We’re in the midst of Internation Week of Prayer as promoted by the IMB and sister organizations. Prayer, of course, is something we pursue year-round, yet it isn’t a bad idea to set aside some time for a special emphasis on prayer for missions.
The IMB compiled an 8-day prayer calendar, focusing on a specific people group or population type each day. If you would like to see the week’s calendar, check out this link. At the bottom of the page you’ll see the listing along with past days’ topics. Each item in the list links to a more in-depth look at the needs of each group.
Today’s prayer emphasis is the Nepalese.
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If I am going to call you to prayer, I need to disclose certain facts.
1. I’m not the greatest prayer warrior. Consistent prayer requires dedication and commitment. I am forever allowing other important tasks to interrupt my prayer time and Bible reading. I’m working on it, though.
2. I traditionally struggle with asking God for things. Part of the problem is that I am extremely aware that He knows all. Who am I to tell Him that I or someone else needs His presence? He knows! Another part of the problem is that I seriously don’t want to bother Him. I know: I’m an idiot. It’s not as if my tiny little missive is likely to distract Him much, but that’s how I see it, vicerally speaking.
3. As the saying goes, “Prayer changes things.” However, recently we discussed in Bible study the events that drove King David to pray and fast for seven days. My friends noted that prayer changed things; specifically, prayer changed David. Perhaps our cries to God will result in saved lives on the field, but I wonder how much of that is a reflection of God’s hand on the lost person versus God changing the heart of the missionary in order to help him work more effectively.
So…all this to say, “Pray, please. Pray for me so I can pray more. Pray for the work that happens in some pretty rough places around the world. Pray that God will change people to make them more receptive to the gospel. Pray that God will alter the hearts of missionaries so they might work more diligently. Pray that God might mold the hearts of churches across the nation so they can find a way to support missions actively, tangibly, and permanently.”