Here at BCEC, during March we focus on Missions (not to say we don’t normally. But we like to look more into it this month!)
Occasionally during prayer time I like to pray with scripture in mind. Of course I don’t always remember scripture off by heart (shamefully, I always fail to remember the old memory verses that the Sunday school teachers used to try and drill into us!). So I find having God’s Word in front of me open and ready very helpful during prayer times.
I know God wants us to pray for those unreached. And I know God approves of His scripture (!) so why not combine them both?
Below are a few examples of using scripture to intercede for the lost people groups. I invite you to pray with me. I have left a blank space for you to fill with whichever people group you would like to pray for. You can pray for any group, i.e. the French, Greeks, the North Koreans, or even locally: the oppressed people in Birmingham? Whichever people group you choose and from whatever locality or nation, I hope and pray you will be able to get the gist and use scripture to aid your prayers while you intercede in the future. The Word of God comes alive when we declare it audibly as it is us proclaiming His glory out loud. Hope these scripture-based prayers help kick start your interceding for the lost. Happy praying! May the Spirit move!
Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You. You show love to thousands. O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are Your purposes for the _____ people and mighty are Your deeds. Your hands are open to all the ways of _____ people. (based on Jeremiah 32:17-19)
Father, I pray for the _____ people would arise and shine, for their light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon them. For darkness covers the earth and a thick darkness is over the _____ people, but You, Lord, rise upon the _____ people and Your glory appears over them. I pray the _____ people will come to Your light, and kings to the brightness of Your dawn. As the _____ people assemble together and lift up their eyes, may their faces be radiant and their hearts throb and swell with joy. (based on Isaiah 60:1-5)
I pray that the _____ people walking in darkness will see a great light, for Your word declares that the light has dawned on those living in the land of the shadow of death. I thank You, Lord, that You will be their everlasting light and glory. May the day of sorrow of the _____ people come to an end. (based on Isaiah 9:2; 60:19, 20; Matthew 4:16)
Father, You know the thoughts and plans you have for the _____ people. These are thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, not for evil, to give them hope in their final outcome. I pray that the _____ people will call upon You, and that they will come and pray to You, and that You will hear them. Then the _____ people will seek You as a vital necessity and find You; when they search for You with all their heart, they will find You. Lord, release the _____ people from their captivity and gather them from all the nations and all the places You have driven them. (based on Jeremiah 29:11-14 AMP)
In case you’ve missed out on the sermon gems of this month so far, you can listen to the sermons from this page.