Ordinary Moments: Small Prayers That Can Change The WorldSample

Preparing Your Dinner

Dinner preparation for you might mean putting food in the microwave and hitting a few buttons. Maybe you use a meal delivery service to prep dinner or pull out your mom’s cookbook. No matter your preferred method, consider how much more difficult the simple task of food prep would be if the instructions weren’t in a language you understand.

Now think about how hard it would be to wrap your mind around concepts in the Bible if it wasn’t in a language you understood. For people who communicate in the approximately 2,000 languages around the world without any Scripture, it’s their reality. But God is working around the world through people who are passionate about seeing His Word translated into their language. One of the greatest ways to stand alongside people who are waiting for Scripture is to pray for them.

So whether you’re waiting for water to boil or just staring at a ticking timer, take a moment during your dinner prep to pray for the people who speak languages where no Bible translation work has started yet. 

• Africa: Lord, I want to lift up the 700 communities across Africa that are still waiting for a Bible translation to begin in their language. Thank you that despite these needs, churches are growing quickly throughout the region. 
• Americas: I thank the Lord that 400 languages already have translations completed in the Americas. Please bless the remaining 120 languages with translation projects and access to Scripture.
• Asia: Lord, I pray for the individuals and missions organizations working together to advance the work of the gospel across Asia, especially for the 850 languages that still need a translation started. 
• Europe: I want to pray for the 50 communities in Europe that are still anticipating the start of a Bible translation in their language, particularly European Sign Language.
• Pacific: I lift up the over 400 language groups in the Pacific that are waiting for Scripture. Please work across this region to make Your name known. 

The true beginning of a Bible translation project is when someone starts praying for it to happen. God is at work through the prayers of His people! 

Things to Ponder: 

• How would your life be different if you didn’t have access to the Bible in your preferred language?
• Sometimes we see God answer prayers quickly, but other times tangible results come much later. What has God taught you about patience and prayer?
• Starting a translation project can seem like an impossible task—but God can move mountains. What difficult projects has God helped you accomplish?