“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. ” Ma. 28:18-20 KJV
Every year our church holds an annual missions convention. It’s as much a part of our calendar as Christmas and Easter; But as I sense Jesus’ return drawing near, these conventions have taken on a new urgency in my heart.
I live in a part of our country where something like 2% of the population believes that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. If the rapture should take place tonight 98% of New England would most likely be left behind.
This year as Missions Convention rolls along I am keenly aware that I have a job to do and I am running out of time to do it in! Our Pastor has asked us to look at the mission in three areas: PRAY, GIVE, AND GO.
I feel so overwhelmed as I look at the task ahead. Sometimes I sit in staff meeting and look at the job and just about crumble under the weight of what must be done. We are to reach how many? 98% of 11,000,000 people?!?!?!
This is why we must pray. Prayer is not wishful thinking. It is accessing the supernatural power of God and releasing it into the situations we are concerned with. The church cannot accomplish the task at hand…but God can. He will use the church to do it. But it begins and ends in prayer.
This year I am renewing my commitment to pray three times a week with our R.P.M. team. God has also called me to renew some private prayer commitments.
Tell me, how has God asked you to pray?
Reinventing the We'll 
As a long time struggler with the verse, ‘pray without ceasing’, I’ve become more and more inclined to pray ‘breath prayers’, where I simply lift the person who comes to mind to the Father, without dictating what action should be taken. That said, I still have a more set aside time of prayer and meditation that involves praying specifically but I’ve come to the realization that I don’t have to know the need to pray the prayer, since He already does. God bless you as you pray and serve.
Brother Lawrence was a great teacher! I have used his idea of breath prayers for many years. I believe God has a different prayer “calling” for every believer. There is no cookie cutter method but each of us are called. Knowing that calling is sooo important! Thanks for checking in!
God lead me to this verse in the R.P.M. prayer time the other day. Isaiah 62:6-7. 6) O Jerusalem, I have posted watchman on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. 7) Give the Lord, no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.
I am committed to praying for the lost in this region, as well as, reading and meditating on His word even more. I too sense that there is a great urgency to get the job done. Jesus’ return is very near. Take no rest until it is done he says. May God’s supernatural power answer the cry of the lost.
It is good to have you as a fellow prayer warrior Deb!
Lately my prayer has been, “Lord help me get out of the way so Your will be done.”
Big one for me right now. God keeps telling me “Give it back and leave it in my hands.” I have found that my “helping” God sometimes is not the best way to get His work accomplished. Thanks for this reminder.
I find myself praying whenever the ambulence goes by.
Me too. Our church is on a main route from town to the local hospital so many times as a staff we bow in prayer when we hear the sirens go by.
>> “We are to reach how many? 98% of 11,000,000 people?!?!?!”
How? One at a time!
We cannot, and we are not expected, to reach them all, but I believe we are responsible to show the love of Christ to every person with whom we come in contact and to tell of the Good News of the Gospel at every opportunity.
If each of us did this. . . . . if people could see Christ in us . . . . .
Oh Angela you are so right! God has told me time and again to let go and let God! I think sometimes of Jesus who walked in this sea of human need and looked with compassion on the multitudes. I think of the time He wept over Jerusalem because He knew its fate and I think will that also be New England? It breaks my heart to think of so many going into eternity without knowing and to know that my power to change that is so limited.
Pastor J, I had no idea that only 2% were believers in your area. Now you’ve given me something else to pray about. I have to confess something. And maybe when I do, you will pray, and it will help move me forward with this. He wants me to fast and pray, at least twice a week. To start with. And I haven’t done it yet. Pray, yes . . .fast consistently, no. 😦 He also revealed three specific areas to pray for . . .people to pray for. Family. Close family. And they are the ones that I struggle with the most.
God bless you as you pray, give and go, in Jesus name!
Praise God Debbie! I will indeed pray for you! And you can do this. He will give you strength! 🙂