Prayer for Effective Sharing of The Good News Around The World - Even Now In Troubled Times

 MISSIONS

In the middle of difficult times God calls His people to go into all the world with good news.  Jesus used these familiar words as He gave instructions to His disciples just before ascending into heaven:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  Matthew 28:18-20

What’s the good news –

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17

No world events get in the road of this truth.  God still is longing and working away in the background because it is not His desire that any perish but that all would be saved.  We can get so caught up in the events going on around us that we forget that their impact is just for a time – a few years at most. What really matters is that people have their hearts and lives set right with God for eternity.  That’s what we pray to focus on today and to allow God to do through us in our part of the world where we live today.  We’ll use some of our own words and also some words of others as we pray:

O God, you desire that all people be saved and come to knowledge of the truth: Prosper all those who live, preach, and teach the Gospel at home and in distant lands protect them in all perils, support them in their loneliness, sustain them in the hour of trial; give them your abundant grace to bear faithful witness; and endue them with burning zeal and love, that they may turn many to righteousness.

Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne.

Lord Jesus, you commanded us to make disciples of all nations: Bless all those who work together for the spread of the Gospel make them faithful and true witnesses to proclaim your glorious Name. Send down the grace of the Holy Spirit upon all your people, that we may give cheerfully of our substance for the evangelization of the world, and that the light of your truth may shine brightly in every place. Hear us, O merciful Savior.

O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved.

Use us for Your purposes and Your glory today, God.  Whether we are only able to use the phone or social media from our homes because we’re in lock down or out to buy groceries or exercise of whatever other activities are allowed, we pray that our words, our actions, our attitudes, and our responses will be useful in making others conscious of Your great love for them and Your desire to have them come into a living and loving relationship with You that lasts for eternity. 

We give ourselves to You today.  Whatever our circumstances we want to be useful in Your service.  Amen

Now many of you know that my 98 year old mother is in lockdown in a long term care facility and yet every day she’s praying for people around her, she’s doing little things to share the Gospel with those she can.  She told me a story a few days ago about how one of the care aids noticed that she was a little bit down and asked her what was going on.  She mentioned the situation and in the middle of comforting her the care aid told her what an inspiration she was to so many who are in the area of the facility where she lives.  If she can do that when she is blind and 98 and confined to a wheelchair, don’t you think we can too?

There’s a famous quote you probably know from St Francis that reminds us:

Preach the Gospel at all times.  When necessary, use words.

Let’s love our world and do all we can to share the good news of the Gospel with all we can today.