Obeying the Great Commission- Prayer
It is said that the great American preacher, D.L. Moody, had 100 friends who didn’t know Jesus. He prayed for them every day and when one of them became a follower of Christ, he would tick their name off the list. By the time he died, 96 of those 100 had given their lives to Jesus. Then, at his funeral, the final four also became followers of Christ.
What an amazing story and what an amazing legacy! If he could pray for people and see them come to Christ, we can do the same. Maybe 100 people is too many and maybe we don't even know 100 non-Christians, but what about starting with 3 or 4? What about starting with our circles of influence? Just how do we pray for those in our circles of influence?
I learnt this prayer pattern around 2 years ago and have used it ever since. I find it really helpful, so wanted to share it with you. It’s really as simple as ABCD...
A - Awakened to God’s love
Pray for them to be awakened to God’s love, that God’s love would penetrate their hearts and waken them to see that He is a loving God who cares for us. A great prayer to pray is Ephesians 1:17-18:
‘I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.’
B - Blessed
We want the people we are praying for to be blessed! We pray God’s blessing upon those who don't know Jesus.
C - Convicted
In John 16:8-11 we read:
‘When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.’
It’s the Holy Spirit who will convict the world of their sin, not clever preaching or wise words. So, we pray that the Holy Spirit will convict the people we are praying for.
D - Drawn to Jesus
It’s Jesus who changes lives – nobody and nothing else. He is the only one that can save us from our sin. When we are praying for our friends and family to know Jesus we want them to be drawn to Him and nobody or nothing else.
‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ John 12:32.
I pray that this will help you and that today you will start the exciting journey into praying for you friends and family.
- Josh Raybould
What an amazing story and what an amazing legacy! If he could pray for people and see them come to Christ, we can do the same. Maybe 100 people is too many and maybe we don't even know 100 non-Christians, but what about starting with 3 or 4? What about starting with our circles of influence? Just how do we pray for those in our circles of influence?
I learnt this prayer pattern around 2 years ago and have used it ever since. I find it really helpful, so wanted to share it with you. It’s really as simple as ABCD...
A - Awakened to God’s love
Pray for them to be awakened to God’s love, that God’s love would penetrate their hearts and waken them to see that He is a loving God who cares for us. A great prayer to pray is Ephesians 1:17-18:
‘I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.’
B - Blessed
We want the people we are praying for to be blessed! We pray God’s blessing upon those who don't know Jesus.
C - Convicted
In John 16:8-11 we read:
‘When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.’
It’s the Holy Spirit who will convict the world of their sin, not clever preaching or wise words. So, we pray that the Holy Spirit will convict the people we are praying for.
D - Drawn to Jesus
It’s Jesus who changes lives – nobody and nothing else. He is the only one that can save us from our sin. When we are praying for our friends and family to know Jesus we want them to be drawn to Him and nobody or nothing else.
‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ John 12:32.
I pray that this will help you and that today you will start the exciting journey into praying for you friends and family.
- Josh Raybould
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