Lord of the Harvest, Pt. IV

"And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" [Matthew 9:35-38 ESV]

Lord and Master of the harvest,

Help me to pray specifically as I earnestly seek you to send laborers into the harvest!

Would you send me into the harvest? Help me to seriously consider your command to go and make disciples of all nations. Help me examine my own heart and willingness to go. Help me to surrender my will to your will, trusting you to be clear in determining my role to go or send, while always praying. Humble me before your glory and by your grace to say, “Here I am! Send me.”

Would you shape and form the heart of my spouse to go? If you send me, you will send us together. Help me to patiently pray for your will and timing. Help me to be humble and clear in communication, without pressure and manipulation. Help me to see your will and purpose as I expectantly wait upon you. By your mercy and grace, bring them to say, “Here I am! Send me.”

Would you send my children into the harvest? You have blessed me with children whom I have dedicated to your purposes and whom I have raised to know and glorify Jesus Christ with their lives. Prepare my heart to respond with joy and enthusiasm if and when you set them apart to go to the nations. Help me to embrace the loss of their presence in going to be a joyful sanctifying work in my life and a powerful pattern of prayer and dependence upon your work in and through their lives. By your purpose and for the fruit of the harvest, bring them to say, “Here I am! Send me.”

Would you send my grandchildren into the harvest? You have marvelously and uniquely connected my heart to my grandchildren. Please use my influence and godliness to demonstrate your great commission as a priority for their lives. Help me teach them by example to pray faithfully and give generously to those who go as laborers into the harvest. In their relationship with Jesus Christ and worship of Him, bring them to say, “Here I am! Send me.”

Would you send my pastor into the harvest? Thank you for the godly and faithful pastor you have called to be our teacher and shepherd. Increase his vision and passion for your mission in practical ways that we will implement in our church for your glory. Set his heart on fire for the nations and bring him to lead by example and say, “Here I am! Send me.”

Would you send one of my elders into the harvest? Thank you for the godly men you are shaping and maturing by your Word and Spirit to oversee, shepherd, and equip us. As you continue to develop and add men to serve as our elders, stir their hearts for the unreached and unengaged peoples of the world and bring one or more of them to say, “Here I am! Send me.”

Would you send someone from my church into the harvest? Please use my prayers as a spark to ignite a growing flame and passion through the ministry of the Word and Spirit to create a love and movement for our missionaries and those you will send through our church. Help us raise up children, young people, and singles who love you in such a way that they live in dependence upon you and walk by the Spirit. Inspire and lead through our families and seniors in genuine discipleship and faithfulness to fulfill our part of the great commission. Help us become a sending church by bringing someone in our Body to say, Here I am! Send me.”

Lord and Master of the Harvest, “Here I am! Send me."

Amen.