Touching the Mission Field through Prayer

“Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” (Psalm 96:2-3)

Anyone can pray for others and come to God on their behalf.  But some people are gifted at intercession. They have a passion for the needs of others, and lay them before God.   An intercessor’s heart is touched for places and for people who are in need, not so much on their side as by their side and on their behalf.

Intercession is trusting God to act, even if it’s not in the manner or timing we seek.  God wants us to ask, even urgently.  It is casting our weakness before God’s strength, and, at its best, having a bit of God’s passion burn in us.  “Brothers, my heart's desire, and my prayer to God, is for the salvation of the Israelites.” (Romans 10:1)

The Bible has many cases of people standing up for others before God.  The most striking example is Abraham.  He took the initiative to step forward before God on behalf of his neighbors in Sodom and its area. (Genesis 18:22-33)  Moses also stepped in when God was angry, standing in the gap in the most literal sense; offering his own life for that of his nation.  Thankfully, God didn’t take him up on the offer. (Exodus 32:9-14)  Another great example was the master builder Nehemiah, who prayed to God to bring about the rebuilding of Jerusalem and of his people. (Nehemiah 1:4-10)  

As they took their concerns to God, the key motivation behind these giants of faith was compassion. Each one of them loved the people, the culture, and the faith with a love like God’s, and it burned in them so much that they dared to go before God for the sake of the people.     

Jesus was the prime example of an intercessor.  He interceded in prayer for God to bless and protect His followers.  At the cross, He prayed for forgiveness.  Indeed, His whole life, His whole reason for being born, was to be a living intercession, a giving of His life to span the rift caused by our rebellion against God. (John 17:6-25)

This is what we hope to see happening when you, God’s people, pray for Missions and Missionaries who are on the front lines fighting a battle against the schemes of the evil one every day.  The bonds will be broken, doors will be opened, hearts will be melted and God’s kingdom will be established in all our mission fields.

John Wesley said, “Prayer is where the action is.”  And so I ask you to join me in praying for the millions of lost people around the world, and for the missionaries giving of themselves to bring the gospel to those millions.