Ask God for the World

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Current revision as of 15:01, 30 January 2020

God’s end goal in the world is that his glory would be known and enjoyed among all the nations. This reality is evident from cover to cover in the Bible, from the creation of man and woman in God’s image to the consummation of God’s kingdom in a multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language worshiping him for the salvation and satisfaction found in him (Genesis 1:26–28; Revelation 7:9–17).

If this is the end goal of God — the spread of his glory among all the nations — then this should be the end goal of every Christian in whom the Spirit of God dwells. If the Spirit of God wants the world for Christ, and you have the Spirit of God living in you, then you will want the world for Christ. Global mission is apparently not a program in the church for a select few who are called in a special way. Global mission is the purpose for which we all have breath. Every Christian lives and dies for the spread of God’s glory among all the nations. This means that every Christian, at least in theory, prays for the spread of God’s glory among all the nations.

But what about in practice?

If Angels Heard Our Prayers

If someone were to listen in on your prayers over the last week, would they hear a zeal for God’s glory among all the nations? Would they hear concern for the more than two billion men, women, and children who are among groups still unreached by the gospel? Would they hear compassion for imprisoned and endangered brothers and sisters in persecuted countries?

Would they hear prayers for God’s mercy and justice amidst crises in Latin America or conflicts in the Middle East, or on behalf of the starving in sub-Saharan Africa, the trafficked in South Asia, and refugees forced from their homes around the world? Would they hear pleading for the health of the global church in places where it does exist and for missionaries who are planting the church where it does not exist?

If the answer to any (or all) of the above questions is “no,” I simply want to encourage you to incorporate praying for the world into your regular time alone with God. And I want to encourage you in this way because God has invited you to pray in this way. Well, to be more accurate, he has commanded you to pray in this way. But as with his other commands, this is an invitation from God to participate with him in what he is doing in the world.

How to Pray for the World

Just think of it: Before you or I get out of bed in the morning, we can pause and play a part in what God is doing in North Korea. Or North Africa. Among the unreached, among the persecuted, and among the suffering in places where we may never go and in the lives of people we may never meet (at least this side of heaven). And God has not only invited you and me to ask him for requests around the world; he has promised to answer our requests according to his word.

So how do we pray for the world according to God’s word? I offer the following as a biblical and practical guide to get you started:

Pray for the unreached among the nations.

Pray that God would relent of his wrath and show his mercy by saving people who are unreached right now. Pray that God would send laborers to them and from among them (Matthew 9:36–38). Pray that a similar pattern from the ministry of Paul and Barnabas through Acts 13–14 would emerge: that missionaries among the unreached would have confidence in God’s word (Acts 13:4–5), power from God’s Spirit (Acts 13:6–7), victory in spiritual warfare (Acts 13:10–12), success in gospel witness (Acts 13:12), peace with other believers, and favor with unbelievers (Acts 13:14–15).

Pray that the gospel would be clear through them (Acts 13:26–34) and that God would open hearts around them (Acts 13:48). Pray for their joy in the midst of suffering, kindness in the midst of slander (Acts 14:1–2), spiritual power (Acts 14:3), personal humility (Acts 14:4–18), patience (Acts 14:8–18), and perseverance (Acts 14:19–20). Pray that God would use them to make disciples and multiply churches (Acts 14:21–28).

For a useful tool to help in praying specifically for unreached people groups, I encourage you to download the “Unreached of the Day” app from Joshua Project. This is a simple, powerful way to incorporate prayer for the nations into your daily walk with God.

Pray for the persecuted among the nations.

Ask God to strengthen persecuted believers that they might hold fast to the hope God gives, to know the depth of God’s love for them, to experience boldness and strength from the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the gospel faithfully. Pray for persecutors to see and come to know Christ through the lives of those they are persecuting, and for justice (Acts 4:23–30; 2 Timothy 1:8–14).

Pray for the poor among the nations.

Plead for provision of food for the hungry and for safe drinking water for the thirsty. For medical provision for children and adults suffering and dying of preventable diseases. For refugees who have been separated from their homes due to natural and moral disasters. For the church to give generously, sacrificially, and cheerfully to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7–11; Proverbs 3:27–28; Matthew 25:34–40; James 2:15–17; 1 John 3:16–18).

Pray for orphans and vulnerable children among the nations.

For children and their parents in the foster care system. For children and caregivers in orphanages. For foster care and adoptive families. For unadoptable and unadopted children around the world (Deuteronomy 10:17–19; Psalm 82:3–4; Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27).

Pray for the enslaved among the nations.

Pray for salvation, strength, protection, freedom, justice, hope, and healing for victims (Psalm 82:4; 103:6; Luke 19:10). For conviction, repentance, and salvation for oppressors, for criminal networks to be dismantled, and for oppressors to be arrested and persecuted (Psalm 7:9; Isaiah 55:7; Jeremiah 22:3; 2 Timothy 2:25). For government corruption to cease and for the implementation of just legislation (Deuteronomy 16:19; Proverbs 8:15; Amos 5:12; 1 Timothy 2:1–2). For the church to advocate and work in unity against injustice (Psalm 133; Proverbs 31:8; John 17:23; Romans 15:5).

How Jesus Taught to Pray

The above is a starting point, but it’s certainly not the whole story when it comes to all the ways we can pray for the world. And not only can, but must. After all, this is how Jesus taught us to pray. For the hallowing of God’s name in all the earth (Matthew 6:9). For the hallowing of God’s name as King of the nations, Lord of the peoples, Savior of sinners, Defender of his people, Provider for the poor, Father to the fatherless, and Deliverer of the oppressed. Let us pray accordingly.

Let us be done with prayer that merely centers around our lives, our families, and the world right around us. We have been created for so much more. We have been called to join with the God of the universe in spreading his goodness and glory among all the nations. Let’s pray today toward this end — starting today. And as we do, we will experience the pure joy of participating with God in the accomplishment of his end goal for all the world.