Mission Trip Prayer & Devotional Planنموونە

"Jesus and the People Who Pray"

We’ve emphasized the story of God’s justice in this series of devotions. Justice is not a subject that is sprinkled occasionally throughout the Bible. Rather it is the core of what God seeks in the earth that he created. He aims to set right the world that has been broken by sin. He wants every creature to flourish, and he wants to put an end to evil. Then there will be peace. God wants this and he promises to make it happen.

In mission we seek to take part in this story — to do what we can, by word and deed, to advance the coming of God’s kingdom and make this planet more what he wants. As Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow makes clear, even the most helpless person can participate in this — by prayer. God wants to bring justice, and he is eager to hear his people requesting it. But “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Will Jesus discover us praying with heart and soul for his kingdom to come?

What about you? Can you say that justice is consistently your prayer? Do you persist in looking for it and asking for it from God himself?

Your mission trip can be a time for you to develop the habit — the faith habit — of praying for justice. During your trip you will be highly attuned to your environment, noticing what you might ordinarily miss in your everyday life. Most of us see more critically when we are in another cultural setting too: we recognize injustice because it stands out to us, whereas the familiar life of our own community may have lulled us into thinking there is no injustice.

When you see injustice, you can respond with plans for action. You can respond with anger and outrage. Here’s another response: learn to pray. Truthfully, your outrage may not accomplish much. Neither may your plans for action make any deep impact. But you go on mission accompanied by a God who cares and wants you to join him in his concern for injustice. He has the power to bring change. He has promised to bring change. Make sure you are talking to him about it.

Prayer: Lord, I don’t want to be a prayerless activist. I want to be closer to this widow, who never lost hope, and never stopped praying.