HOW TO PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES

I may mention this on Sunday, but I think there are a couple of things that are important for missions in our lives and in our church. There are a couple of columns that missions is built upon that make it strong in our lives.

One is Giving.

Another is Going.

The Third is praying.

Prayer for missionaries is of vital importance before, God to the missionary themselves and even in our lives.

There are some simple things that can help us to pray. There are some things that are vital to pray for concerning our missionaries which we will speak of today as well.

As we get started, here is something I read that will help you and it is using your fingers as a reminder of how to pray.

Luke 10:2 (AV)

...The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Want to know how to pray for those working to fulfill the Great Commission for us around the world? You can use your fingers as prayer memory aids. Here’s how:

Prayer Reminder - YOUR HAND

1. Thumb – those close

Since your thumb is nearest to you, begin by praying for those missionaries closest to you. They are the easiest ones to remember.

2. Index finger – those who point others to the Savior

Let your ”pointing finger” remind you to pray for missionaries who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and evangelists. They need support and wisdom for pointing others in the right direction.

3. Middle finger – church leaders

Our tallest finger reminds us of our church leaders. We can never pray too much for them. Pray for those who supervise and direct missionary outreach.

4. Ring finger – those that are weak

Surprisingly, the ring finger is our weakest finger (as any piano teacher will testify). This weak finger reminds us to pray for those missionaries who are discouraged, in trouble, or in pain.

5. Pinky finger – the small works or small fields

Our pinger finger is the smallest finger of all, which is where we should place our individual wants and desires in relation to world evangelism needs. The Bible says, ”The least shall be the greatest among you.” Your pinkie should remind you to pray for the people of the world who have the greatest need to find Jesus. Pray that they will open their eyes and see Him.”

But here are some very practical things to help us in our prayer time and to really invest ourselves in the lives of our missionaries.

I. Pray For Them By Individually by Name

Get to know them and their family personally. Use their prayer card and make a family profile on them. Learn the names of the husband, wife and children. Write to them and ask for their birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Read their prayer letters and make note of any specific needs. Make a card on each family and pray for them.

Every missionary is different, they have their own needs.

The single missionary faces a whole set of different problems on the field. As a single missionary, they are alone and will constantly do battle against the flesh and the powers of darkness. Pray that they will not anguish over difficulties and opposition. Pray for their faith to be strong.

A younger family with kids has different needs than an empty nester family does.

II. Pray For Them Systematically

Come up with a system where you will pray for them on a regular basis. If you use a card system, you can pray for a missionary at mealtime, during your devotions, etc. The key is making it a part of your daily life. Of course if the Lord puts a special burden on your heart for them, pray for them then and there.

III. Pray For Them Spontaneously

Romans 12:12 AV

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

IV. Pray For Specific Things

Here are ”a few” specifics that you can consider as you pray for them.

A. Family

They are invading the devil’s territory and he will do everything he can to attack and destroy their family. Remember to pray for the husband and wife’s relationship. Pray their love will grow stronger towards each other. Pray for their children, their spiritual growth, education, etc. Pray that the Lord will use them as a family unit in the work of the Lord.

B. Finances

Money problems have always been one of the top reasons why missionaries become discouraged and quit. The average missionary will lose a good deal of their needed support during a four year term on the field. Many missionaries go to the mission field with ”just enough support to make it.” So when churches drop their support, inflation hits, or currency devaluates, the devil will use these things to cause them great hardship. We should also pray for the churches that support our missionaries.

C. Cultural Adjustment

Culture shock is very real. Many missionaries have a difficult time adjusting to new foods, life styles, value systems, and ways of doing things. To reach the people in their own culture is a hard lesson for some missionaries to learn. Some missionaries react wrongly on the field and encumber their fellowship and witness for the Lord. Pray that the missionary family will be able to adjust in order to be happy and have an effective ministry.

D. Strength

Strength for Their Daily Tasks: Everyday living on the mission field can often consume much of their time.

Do you know the amount of time it takes everyday just to do the daily routines of life in another country. That is often in a modern developed nations.

Multiply that frustration many times over with life in a third world country. Think of the everyday frustrations like open markets for ”daily” shopping, long lines in small, under stocked stores, lack of cars or appliances, problems with cooking, banking, mail, lack of electricity, no air conditioning or hot water, etc. In this modern day that we live, some have problems with the lack of fast food restaurants – McDonald’s withdrawal!

E. Language Learning

The missionaries must not only adapt culturally, but they must also be able to share the love of Christ with the people they are seeking to reach. To communicate the Gospel is the reason they are on the mission field. If they are going to reach the people, they must learn the language. Learning the language is the key to everything the missionary does. Many languages are complicated to learn. A superficial knowledge of the language makes it very difficult to communicate the Gospel message.

V. Pray For Their Health

Among the main reasons why missionaries leave the mission field is for health problems. Many missionaries live and work in harsh climates where various diseases are wide-spread. Numerous times, they have little or no medical help available. To get good medical help, frequently they must leave that country to find it elsewhere.

A. Physical health

Pray For Their Spiritual Growth And Walk With The Lord: They need to be feeding on God’s Word, have a strong prayer life, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and grow in grace in order to have an effective life and ministry.

B. Emotional health

Pray For Their Pressures, Discouragement, Loneliness And Fears: They are in the thick of the spiritual battle. They face emotional struggles with little or no help. Many times when missionaries have problems, they feel they can’t share it with anyone. The devil can really use this fear to cause them to hold everything inside until they react wrongly or quit.

C. Spiritual health

God made us in His image, we have physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and health issues.

Ephesians 6:12 AV

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

VI. Pray for Special Needs

VII. Pray for Their Relationship With The Government

Passports, visas, taxes, education of their children, etc. have become real problems for missionaries as they deal with government officials.

VIII. Pray For Them to Have Compassion

For The People They Minister in tears shall reap in joy.”

Psalm 126:5 AV

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Jude 22 AV

And of some have compassion, making a difference:

IX. Pray For Their Ministry

A. Souls

Pray that the Lord will give open doors and hearts to be receptive to the Gospel.

B. Discipleship

As people are reached with the Gospel, pray that the converts will become strong in the Lord

C. Church Growth

That ministries and churches that are established.

D. Missions / Goals

X. Pray For The Power of God upon Them

Ephesians 6:19 AV

And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

It is easy to labor in the flesh by depending on one’s own strength, wisdom, and ability to accomplish a ministry, but how fruitless this would be. Only missionaries with God’s power will be seeing souls saved and a ministry that will stand the test of time.

Pray – Pray – Pray that the missionaries might be continually filled with the power.

Related Media

Related Sermons