A Prayer for Missionaries — sacred illustration
✶ Our Bible Moments No. 263 / 272

Church & Ministry

A Prayer for Missionaries

Matthew 9:37-38

Matthew 9:37-38 records Jesus speaking to His disciples as He went through the towns and villages, teaching and healing, moved with compassion for crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd.

Lord of the harvest, the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few, so I ask You to send out workers into Your harvest. Strengthen the missionaries I know by name, and those only You know. Keep them and their families safe and well. Give them true friends, open doors for the gospel, and let many come to know Jesus through them. Provide for every need, and show me my part: to pray, to give, or to go. Amen.

Matthew 9:37-38 records Jesus speaking to His disciples as He went through the towns and villages, teaching and healing, moved with compassion for crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd.

The Scripture

“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.””

— Matthew 9:37-38

Prayer points from Matthew 9:37-38

  1. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out more workers.
  2. Pray by name for missionaries you know, and for their families.
  3. Ask God to keep them safe, healthy and provided for.
  4. Pray for open doors and clear words to share the gospel.
  5. Pray for the people they serve, that many would come to know Jesus.
  6. Ask God to show you your part: to pray, to give or to go.

About this verse

Matthew tells us that Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing. When He saw the crowds, “He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Then He gave His disciples a surprising instruction. He did not first tell them to go; He told them to pray: “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.” In the very next chapter Jesus sends out the twelve, so the men who were told to pray became part of the answer. The harvest still belongs to the Lord, and so do the workers. Missionaries today leave home, learn new languages, raise support, and face loneliness, sickness and sometimes danger to carry the gospel to people who have not heard it. As Paul asked, “And how can they preach unless they are sent?” This prayer is for anyone praying for missionaries, alone, in a small group or on a church’s missions Sunday.

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