Day 16: Vip: Very Important Prayers

Congratulations on completing the first fifteen days of this thirty-day challenge. Many of the days have been dedicated to prayer because we simply cannot separate prayer from the Great Commission. We seek to go in God’s power, not our own.

Thus, we will take Day 16 to pray again for several important people and issues. This day is both a summary and a review, but it’s also more. We are praying for some very important matters. They are worthy of our attention.

PRAY FOR AN OUTWARDLY FOCUSED HEART

We began this thirty-day challenge with a prayer for an outwardly focused heart. Obedience to the Great Commission is a matter of the heart. It is a matter of obedience.

Jesus told us that our treasures are a reflection of the desires of our heart: “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:21). If you ask most Christians what their treasure is, I would be surprised if many mentioned the Great Commission. Our prayer again today is that God would give us a desire to reach beyond ourselves.

We become committed to those areas of life that excite us the most. While there is nothing wrong with getting excited about a sports team, a hobby, or a trip to the beach, we can pray that God will give us a renewed excitement to be obedient to the Great Commission.

Pray again today that God will help you turn your focus outward.

PRAY FOR AN OUTWARDLY FOCUSED CHURCH

Pray again for your church to become outwardly focused. Perhaps this time as you are praying for your congregation, you can think of specific members for whom to pray. Some of your fellow members work in places where they interact with non-Christians on a regular basis. They are in the middle of a great mission field.

Other church members you know have a specific sphere of influence. Take Jamie for example. When I met her at a conference where I was speaking, she told me she was “just a stay-at-home mom.” My message that day had focused on encouraging people to share the gospel within their spheres of influence. But Jamie didn’t think she had a sphere of influence—apart from the obviously important influence she had on her children.

As we talked further, we somehow got on the subject of her neighborhood homeowners association. She was the chair of the landscaping committee and worked with dozens of her neighbors. The moment she told me about it, the light went on in her mind.

“Wow!” she exclaimed. “I do have a sphere of influence! That’s my mission field!”

You likely have a number of fellow church members who don’t realize they have spheres of influence. Pray for them to discover their mission fields.

PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR

Go back to Days 4 and 14. Look at the descriptions of a typical pastor’s life. Remind yourself again of the challenges pastors face in the midst of the victories they celebrate.

May I make a suggestion at this point? Write a brief email to your pastor. Tell him about your thirty-day commitment and how you have already been praying for him. Even better, tell him you plan to pray for him regularly beyond the thirty days.

I know you will encourage your pastor. I know such emails lift pastors’ spirits and give them God-blessed motivation to press on in ministry. Usually, happy church members don’t write and encourage their pastors. But unhappy and critical church members are very likely to complain. Surprise your pastor with a brief email of encouragement.

It will make all the difference in the world. It really will.

PRAY FOR THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I cannot imagine what it was like at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit first came upon the believers in Jerusalem. Jesus had told his followers that the Spirit would be coming shortly. He told them that the Holy Spirit would give them the power they needed to be witnesses: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere” (Acts 1:8).

Yes, Jesus told them. But did they really know what was coming? Could they have possibly anticipated that about three thousand people would be saved in one day? (Acts 2:41). Did they really think they would change the world?

Maybe not. But they did.

And you can too.

The Holy Spirit is the same as he was two thousand years ago. He is the same as he was at Creation.

You prayed for the power of the Holy Spirit on Day 6.

Pray again for that power. See what God will do through you and through your church.

PRAY FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

You live in your own Jerusalem. God has put you in your community for a reason. God has put you at your home address for a reason.

Pray again for your community. You could start by praying for the ten families that live closest to you. Even if you don’t know the names of all of them, you can pray for them.

You have probably discovered already that God is opening doors for you as you completed the first half of your thirty-day challenge.

Wouldn’t it be great if it became clearly evident that God is using you to reach your neighbors and your community?

Pray with boldness and with confidence that you will indeed be a witness in your community.

Watch God open doors in miraculous ways.

PRAY FOR OBEDIENCE

Again, pray for your own obedience. This thirty-day challenge is, well, a challenge. You know you have been given commands and commissions to be a Great Commission Christian. The only way you can argue with that truth is to argue with the words of Jesus.

You know that Jesus clearly said he is the only way of salvation. If you ever waver on that truth, read John 14:6. Jesus did not mince words. He said he is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. And he said that no one can come to the Father except through him.

It’s a powerful message. And it’s an exclusive message. You have been called to be a bearer of that message. We call it the Good News because it is the best news ever. God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for us. To forgive our sins. To provide the only path to heaven.

Pray that you will be obedient to share that Good News faithfully and regularly.

PRAY FOR YOUR ONE

On Day 10, you began praying for your one, a person who is not in church and is likely not a believer in Christ. Let this day be a reminder to keep praying for your one. As you pray for him or her, take careful note of how God opens doors for you to connect with your one.

As I write these words, my one is a hair stylist named Kristen. She has been cutting my hair for more than a year. We began to have spiritual conversations pretty quickly as she shared with me concerns and needs for her family.

I have shared the gospel with her. I invited her and her husband to church and then lunch after the service. She finally accepted. I am praying for my one that she will respond to the gospel. She seems so close, so very close.

Indeed, I hope by the time you have read these words, Kristen will be a follower of Christ. She is my one, but I am praying she will be one who belongs to Jesus.

Keep praying for your one.