The Lord’s Prayer calls for God’s people to pray that the kingdom of God will come on earth in the same way that it exists in heaven. That is an incredible invitation to participate with God and impact history from the human side. As you pray for our global and Mission Canada workers and all our partners around the world, please pray the Word of God over them. Ask the Lord to give us the nations as our inheritance, to have them in our possession to the praise of His glory.

1. Pray for workers (Luke 10:2, Matthew 9: 37-38). [1]

“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 field.’” 

Jesus encouraged us to pray for men and women who will give their lives to reach people without Christ wherever they are. There remain many who are living as part of Unreached People Groups (UPGs), who have never heard a clear presentation of the good news. It is God who calls and empowers people to do His work, but He invites us to ask Him to send them. Pray for more global and Mission Canada workers, and for hundreds of pastors, evangelists and teachers around the world.

2. Pray that the Holy Spirit will draw men and women to Himself and that blind eyes will be opened and the glory of God will be revealed.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

People are weary and burdened by the reality of sin and all the consequences that result. Only the Holy Spirit can open their eyes to their true need for salvation that comes from repentance and leads to new life and joy in Jesus. Pray that God will bring hundreds of thousands of people into the rest of salvation.

“I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:17b-18).

False religions and deceptive ideologies have blinded men and women in every nation to the truth of the gospel. Pray that God will unveil the beauty and glory of the cross and break through the veil that blinds the minds and hearts of so many. For “whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:16).

3. Pray for passion, courage and soundness of mind.

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…” (2 Timothy 1:6-8a).

God has given His followers a spirit of power that sets us free from fear and timidity so that we can boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel. The world is full of uncertainty and danger. But “we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved” (Hebrews 10:39), so pray for courage to face the dangers that come with the mission.

4. Pray that God’s Word will accomplish the purposes for which God sends it.

“…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

God’s Word is a powerful, two-edged sword that is greater than the political, economic and social challenges and trends. Pray that God’s Word in written, oral, musical and dramatic forms will be proclaimed in every community in our world.

5. Pray that the Spirit of God will be poured out on all flesh.

“…I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth...” (Joel 2:28-30a).

God has promised to pour out His Spirit on men and women, young and old, rich and poor. Please pray that God will give visions and dreams to our workers and our partners around the world. Please pray that millions will have powerful divine encounters, and be saved and empowered as God’s witnesses by the Spirit of God.

6. Pray that Jesus will unite His body, the Church.

“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:20b-23).

The unity of the followers of Jesus is a powerful witness to the truth of the gospel. Pray that God will unite Christians around the world to work together to reach those who have never heard the gospel, and that they will be united into the body of Christ. Pray that the love of Christ will reconcile broken relationships and heal wounded hearts so that the witness of His church will be clear and triumphant.

7. Pray that the hearts of those who hear the gospel will be open.

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:8-9).

The Spirit of God is always at work before the messengers arrive with the good news. Pray that the Spirit will prepare the hearts and minds of unbelievers to hear and to understand the truth of the gospel.

8. Pray for the peace and prosperity of the nations.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

The Bible encourages us to pray for the peace and prosperity not only of Jerusalem (Psalm 122), but also for those among whom we live. We send our workers into countries experiencing turmoil and often significant poverty. Pray that God will bring peace and prosperity to the nations, and that the churches we plant will be self-sustaining because the believers are being blessed by God. Pray for justice for the poor, the oppressed, the refugees, the orphan and the widow.

9. Pray for the fruit of salvation to remain and for believers to experience true freedom in Christ.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16-19).

In many places in the world, when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, there can be great persecution and opposition. Pray that God will strengthen those new to the faith and give them courage and power to stand. Also pray they understand that hope for forgiveness and acceptance with God is only possible through the work of Christ on the cross. Pray that people will not rely on a works-based salvation that can lead to legalism rather than freedom.

10. Pray for open doors and for bold and clear proclamation of the good news.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:2-5).

Pray that our workers and all believers would proclaim the message of the gospel clearly, making the most of every opportunity God places before them. Pray that they will always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks them to give the reason for the hope that they have (1 Peter 3:15). Pray that they will show gentleness and respect even if people speak evil of them or mistreat them.

11. Pray for financial resources to support the work of all our workers.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

The Scriptures call us all to generosity and to break the power of Mammon in our lives by giving generously. Pray that God will inspire the church in Canada to sow generously so that the ministry will not lack the resources necessary to fulfil God’s purpose. Our workers are worthy of our support and need adequate finances to accomplish all that God asks of them.

12. Pray for joy and steadfast endurance in the face of persecution.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Church history tells us that the church grows the most when persecution is present. Pray that believers will endure persecution in a Christ-like manner, willing to give our lives for the sake of the gospel if that is what God ordains for us. Pray that God will protect us from the evil one when we are persecuted for the sake of Christ.

We invite you to pray for our Mission Canada and global workers, the work of ERDO and our International Office. The 2017 Prayer Guide is a valuable resource to help direct your prayer and are available FREE of charge. Should you be interested in receiving a copy, please click here.