Many Christians see prayer as a way of asking God for things.
We pray for our family.
We pray for our health.
We pray for our finances.
We pray for guidance and protection.
None of these things are wrong. In fact, God invites us to bring all our requests to Him.
But if that is all prayer is, we have missed something much bigger.
Prayer is not the destination.
Prayer is not simply about getting our personal needs met.
Prayer is joining God in what He is already doing.
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He did not start with "Give us this day our daily bread."
That request comes later.
He started with:
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
Before our needs.
Before our concerns.
Before our plans.
Jesus taught us to pray for God's mission.
God's rule.
God's Kingdom.
God's will being established here on earth.
Prayer is much bigger than us.
What Did Jesus Pray For?
When we look at the prayers and instructions of Jesus, we see something surprising.
Jesus constantly lifted His eyes beyond the immediate and toward multiplication.
He taught His disciples:
"Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Matthew 9:38)
Notice what He did not say.
He did not say, "Pray for a bigger building."
He did not say, "Pray for a better program."
He did not even say, "Pray for more converts."
He said to pray for workers.
People who would go.
People who would share.
People who would make disciples.
People who would multiply.
Later Jesus prayed for His disciples and then for those who would believe through their message (John 17:20).
In other words, Jesus was already praying for future generations of disciples.
He was praying for multiplication.
Prayer Prepares the Ground
Every significant movement of God in history has had one thing in common.
Prayer came first.
Long before the preaching.
Long before the baptisms.
Long before the churches.
Long before the movement became visible.
Someone was praying.
Sometimes a person.
Sometimes a family.
Sometimes a small group.
Sometimes a whole church.
Prayer ploughed the ground before the seed was sown.
Prayer softened hearts before the Gospel arrived.
Prayer prepared workers before they were sent.
Prayer prepared opportunities before anyone recognised them.
When we see the fruit, we often celebrate the harvest.
God sees the hidden prayers that prepared the harvest.
Imagine If...
Imagine if every believer prayed daily:
"Lord, make me more like Jesus."
"Lord, show me who is spiritually open."
"Lord, send more workers into Your harvest."
"Lord, let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in my street, my workplace, my school, and my community."
What might happen?
Imagine if every small group prayed this way.
Imagine if every church prayed this way.
Imagine if thousands of believers prayed this way every day.
Imagine if millions did.
How many people would hear the Gospel?
How many families would be transformed?
How many disciples would be made?
How many new groups would start?
How many communities would experience the Kingdom of God?
The harvest has always belonged to God.
The workers have always belonged to God.
The mission has always belonged to God.
Yet God has chosen to involve ordinary people through prayer.
A Simple Challenge
For the next seven days, spend five minutes each day praying three simple prayers:
1. "Lord, Your will be done in my life."
2. "Lord, show me someone You are already working in."
3. "Lord, send more workers into Your harvest."
Then watch.
Watch your eyes open.
Watch your heart change.
Watch for opportunities.
Watch for people.
Watch for God's activity around you.
Because prayer is not merely asking God to bless our plans.
Prayer is aligning ourselves with His.
And when God's people begin praying for His Kingdom, His harvest, and His mission, history shows that extraordinary things often follow.
The next movement of God may already be beginning with a simple prayer whispered by an ordinary disciple who is willing to say:
"Lord, Your Kingdom come. Your will be done."
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