Growing Your Heart For MissionsSample

Lord of the harvest 

Martin Luther is famous for saying, "I have so much to do today that I'm going to need to spend three hours in prayer in order to be able to get it all done." 

Isn’t it so true that when we hit the busy season of life, we’re tempted to cram in our time with God in the leftover moments, or lessen it to fit “everything else” in?

When in reality, prayer is the most powerful and efficient use of your time.

My dad has taught me so much about prayer by example. About the time he turned 40 years old, he began to nurture a deep desire for communion and intercession with the Lord.

It has grown to the point where today, at nearly 80 years old, words are not sufficient to fully capture his love of prayer. When I’m driving him somewhere and there’s a lull in the conversation for just a moment, I hear him instinctively break into his prayer language. He calls them “breath prayers”—not wasting a single ounce of air. If he’s not talking to someone, he’s talking to the Lord. Constantly. Literally. 

In this space of focusing your heart on doing ministry, it’s critical not only to spend time in conversation with God but affirm that you are simply a vessel for carrying out His work. 

And while you might tend to want to pray for finances and plans and safety, might I suggest a different prayer? As you talk to God, hand him “your” ministry. Because all ministry is the work of the Lord. He is the Lord of the harvest. We do not do anything in the saving of souls, He does it all. But He did tell us look at the fields. They are ripe for harvest. We just need to pray that He would send forth laborers to work in the harvest fields.

God, it’s all YOU. It’s all your work and doing. The fields are ripe for harvest. And you are the Lord of that harvest. Bring forth the workers, I pray. I am here, willing, presenting myself to be one of your laborers. I pray that your kingdom would grow because of the work of my hands that you have ordained for me. I praise you for the great works you are about to do. Amen.