ONE MONTH MISSIONS PRAYER GUIDE 1

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1 ONE MONTH MISSIONS PRAYER GUIDE 1 If we take an honest assessment of our prayer lives, we typically find that our prayers are predominantly self-centered. Imagine the opportunities we miss, then, to participate in what the Lord is doing on a global scale. He has given believers the keys to his kingdom, inviting us to partner with him both spiritually (through prayer) and physically (by taking the gospel to the nations). The fact that you have this guide in your hands indicates that you either currently have or desire to have a greater passion for God s mission in the world. We hope that this guide helps you gain a missional heart for the world he died to redeem and learn how to pray more effectively for it based on prayers from scripture. In Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper argues, prayer is a wartime walkie-talkie, not a domestic intercom. God is more like a general in Command Central than a butler waiting to bring you another pillow in the den. Of course, he is also Father, Lover, Friend, Physician, Shepherd, Helper, King, Savior, Lord, Counselor. But in this fallen world with devils filled, prayer will function best when we keep the frequency tuned to Command Central in the fight of faith. In John 15:7, Jesus says, If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. We pray in confidence that our Savior hears and answers the prayers of his people. Therefore enjoy grasping hold of his promises, lifting them up to him in prayer, and thereby influencing nations and movements and institutions and churches and people s hearts, especially your own (Piper). DAY 1: PRAY THAT GOD WOULD EXALT HIS NAME IN THE WORLD. Scripture: Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. (Matthew 6:9) Devotional Thought: To hallow means to honor as holy. Pray that God s name will be hallowed in the world today. DAY 2: PRAY THAT GOD WOULD EXTEND HIS KINGDOM IN THE WORLD. Scripture: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10) Devotional Thought: Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). Pray that God will reveal the role he would have you play in making disciples of all nations. DAY 3: PRAY THAT THE GOSPEL WOULD SPEED AHEAD AND BE HONORED. Scripture: Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you. (2 Thessalonians 3:1) Devotional Thought: We know that our time on earth is short. Pray that our church and you individually would be used to magnify Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. DAY 4: PRAY FOR THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Scripture: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13, cf. Ephesians 3:19) Devotional Thought: Missions is impossible without the work of the Holy Spirit. Pray that your posture would be one of submission to the Holy Spirit. DAY 5: PRAY THAT GOD WOULD VINDICATE HIS PEOPLE IN THEIR CAUSE. Scripture: And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? (Luke 18:7 RSV) Devotional Thought: As you pray rejoice that we are made blameless by the finished work of Christ and enabled to do the work he has given us to do! DAY 6: PRAY THAT GOD WOULD SAVE UNBELIEVERS. Scripture: Brethren, my heart s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1) Devotional Thought: Pray for people by name that you know need salvation. Pray also for the almost 7000 unreached people groups still in the world today. 1 This prayer guide is adapted from a prayer guide written by John Piper. desiringgod.org/articles/what-to-pray-for

2 DAY 7: PRAY THAT GOD WOULD DIRECT THE USE OF THE SWORD. Scripture: Take... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:17-18) Devotional Thought: Ask God to give you discipline in the study of scripture and wisdom to know how to apply it in your life. DAY 8: PRAY FOR BOLDNESS IN PROCLAMATION. Scripture: Praying at all times in the Spirit... and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:18-19) And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. (Acts 4:29) Devotional Thought: Ask God for the ability to follow through on opportunities he gives to share and to not be ashamed of the gospel! Pray also for missionaries around the world to be bold in proclaiming the gospel. DAY 9: PRAY FOR SIGNS AND WONDERS. Scripture: And now, Lord,... grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness... while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. (Acts 4:29-30) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (James 5:17-18) Devotional Thought: Pray that God would do miraculous things in the world to bring glory to Himself. DAY 10: PRAY FOR THOSE IN NEED OF HEALING. Scripture: Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. (James 5:14-15, cf. Acts 28:8) Devotional Thought: Pray that God would grant healing to both believers and unbelievers in ways that bring Jesus glory. DAY 11: PRAY THAT GOD WOULD SUPPLY HIS TROOPS WITH NECESSITIES. Scripture: Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11) Devotional Thought: Everything in the earth is God s (Psalm 24:1) and nothing is impossible for him (Mark 10:27). Imagine needs that believers around the world may have as they seek to be Christ s hands and feet and proclaim his gospel. Pray that God would provide what they need. DAY 12: PRAY FOR STRATEGIC WISDOM. Scripture: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5) Devotional Thought: Pray for wisdom for those in leadership among churches and missions organizations specifically in discerning where to send laborers for the harvest, and how to best engage unbelievers for the sake of the gospel. What gifts and abilities has the Lord given to you? Where and how might you best leverage them for God s glory? DAY 13: PRAY THAT GOD WOULD ESTABLISH LEADERSHIP IN THE OUTPOSTS. Scripture: And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23) Devotional Thought: Strong leaders are needed to take the gospel to the nations. Pray that you would be one of them. DAY 14: PRAY THAT GOD WOULD SEND OUT REINFORCEMENTS. Scripture: Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:38) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2-3)

3 Devotional Thought: There are billions of people who have never heard of the name of Christ. Pray for the members of the Summit Church they would plan to go the nations and only stay here if the Lord makes that clear to them. DAY 15: PRAY FOR THE SUCCESS OF OTHER MISSIONARIES. Scripture: I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints. (Romans 15:30-31) Devotional Thought: Who do you know either individuals or churches/organizations who has an active missional presence somewhere in the world? Pray specifically for their success. DAY 16: PRAY FOR UNITY AND HARMONY IN THE RANKS. Scripture: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21) Devotional Thought: Unfortunately, one of the biggest reasons that people return from the mission field prematurely is failure to get along with other missionaries. Pray against Satan s schemes in this area. DAY 17: PRAY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF TOGETHERNESS. Scripture: We pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:10) Devotional Thought: Pray for unity among believers that they may remain focused on the task at hand. How might we here in the states be a face to face encouragement for those serving overseas, or in a different city? DAY 18: PRAY FOR A MIND OF DISCERNMENT. Scripture: And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:9-10) Devotional Thought: There are so many possible paths in missions. Pray for an open heart and a humble spirit to receive God s plan for your life. DAY 19: PRAY FOR A KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL. Scripture: And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Colossians 1:9) Devotional Thought: When you become what God wills you to be you will do what God wills you to do. Pastor Will Toburen. Find several scripture passages that highlight God s desires for you and meditate on his will that he has clearly described in his word. Pray that you would follow through on his will for you. DAY 20: PRAY TO KNOW GOD BETTER. Scripture: [We have not ceased to pray for you to be] increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10; cf. Ephesians 1:17) Devotional Thought: We will spend eternity always learning more about God and experiencing more joy in him. Pray for a hunger to know him more now! DAY 21: PRAY FOR POWER TO COMPREHEND THE LOVE OF CHRIST. Scripture: I bow my knees before the Father... [that you] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. (Ephesians 3:14, 18-19) Devotional Thought: Pray that the love of Christ would become more tangible to you each day. As you pray, measure Christ s compassion by the cross and his power by the resurrection. Pastor J.D. Greear

4 DAY 22: PRAY FOR A DEEPER SENSE OF ASSURED HOPE. Scripture: I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers... that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:16, 18) Devotional Thought: Pray that you would hope in Christ alone, not anything in this world which is passing away. DAY 23: PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE. Scripture: [We have not ceased to pray for you to be] strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. (Colossians 1:11; cf. Ephesians 3:16) Devotional Thought: Pray for the ability to one day say as Paul did, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. -2 Timothy 4:7 DAY 24: PRAY FOR A DEEPER SENSE OF HIS POWER WITHIN THEM. Scripture: I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers that you may know what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. (Ephesians 1:16, 18-19) Devotional Thought: How often do you stop to realize that you have been given the very spirit of God to dwell within you?! Think of other bible passages that unpack what this means and use them to pray for both yourself and believers around the world. DAY 25: PRAY THAT YOUR FAITH NOT BE DESTROYED. Scripture: I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren. (Luke 22:32) But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36) Devotional Thought: In this broken world there are countless ways that your faith will be tested and tried. Pray that you will endure these trials by God s grace. DAY 26: PRAY FOR GREATER FAITH. Scripture: Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, I believe; help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24; cf. Ephesians 3:17) Devotional Thought: Pray that your faith will be strengthened in the midst of good times and bad knowing that all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). DAY 27: PRAY THAT YOU MIGHT NOT FALL INTO TEMPTATION. Scripture: Lead us not into temptation. (Matthew 6:13) Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41) Devotional Thought: In what areas of life are you most tempted? Pray for strength in these areas and evaluate how you can build in accountability for yourself in these areas. DAY 28: PRAY THAT GOD WOULD COMPLETE YOUR GOOD RESOLVES. Scripture: To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power. (2 Thessalonians 1:11) Devotional Thought: Pray that the name of Christ might be glorified in you and that no day of your life would be wasted. DAY 29: PRAY THAT YOU WOULD DO GOOD WORKS. Scripture: [We have not ceased to pray for you that you] walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work. (Colossians 1:10) Devotional Thought: We are God s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) Pray that you would bring glory to God through the work that you do.

5 DAY 30: PRAY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. Scripture: Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12) Devotional Thought: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:8-9) Pray that God would bring to your awareness sins you may be blind to and pray for the forgiveness of these. DAY 31: PRAY FOR PROTECTION FROM THE EVIL ONE. Scripture: Deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:13) Devotional Thought: Jesus says, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) Satan does not want you to leverage your life for Christ among the nations. Pray against his schemes of distraction, questioning your call, and attacks on the things and people you love.