Revitalizing Prayer Meetings: A Biblical Approach
Are your church’s prayer meetings feeling stale? Do you find yourself zoning out or struggling to stay focused? You’re not alone. Many of us have been there, feeling like we’re just going through the motions. But what if we could revitalize our prayer meetings and make them a powerful force for advancing God’s kingdom?
Joining Forces with Missionaries
The apostle Paul wrote to the Roman church, urging them to join him in his struggle by praying to God for him (Romans 15:30). He saw the church as his coworkers, teammates, and comrades in arms. When we pray for missionaries, we’re joining an essential work as co-laborers.
Four Biblical Priorities for Praying for Missions
- Pray for the Blessing of God’s People
In Psalm 67:1-2, we read, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” God blesses his people so that they can be a blessing to others. Let’s pray for our local churches to experience God’s grace and favor, that we might better know him and make him known.
- Pray for Open Doors
Paul asked the Colossian church to pray for him, that God might open a door for the word (Colossians 4:3). Many places need the gospel, but there are significant barriers to ministry. Let’s pray for God to break down these barriers and open doors for the word.
- Pray for Boldness and Clarity
Paul also asked for prayer that words might be given to him to proclaim the mystery of the gospel boldly (Ephesians 6:19). Missionaries need boldness and clarity to share the gospel effectively. Let’s pray for them to have the courage and wisdom they need.
- Pray for Endurance
In 2 Timothy 2:3, Paul wrote, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Missionaries face many challenges, and endurance is essential. Let’s pray for them to have the toughness and resolve they need to persevere.
Revolutionizing Our Prayer Meetings
When we pray these biblical priorities, we’re not just doing something nice; we’re joining a vital work. Our prayer meetings should feel like a matter of life and death, like the Jews fasting and praying for Esther before she risked her life (Esther 4). Let’s make our prayer meetings a priority, that we might see God’s kingdom advance and his people blessed.
Additional Tips
- Get to know how your local church is already engaged in missions and pray for those they support.
- Pray for church leaders to have wisdom in considering new workers to support.
- Pray for God to make the members of your church willing to move where he calls for the sake of the gospel.
- Join a local church and commit to praying for its growth and health.
By revitalizing our prayer meetings and focusing on these biblical priorities, we can play a vital role in advancing God’s kingdom and seeing his people blessed.
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