How Praying For the Nations Changed Me

We all know the power of prayer to affect change.

But more often than not, when I begin to pray for a situation or specific cause, I’m the one who comes away changed. That has certainly been the case in praying for the nations.

After reading the book Radical by David Platt (read my review HERE), I was challenged to begin praying for the nations. While there are many ways to accomplish this, I opted to use the website suggested in the book, Operation World.

I’m now almost 30 days into praying for the nations using the resources on this site. There you’ll find a list of individual nations, specifics about the nations, prayer concerns for the gospel work in that country, and lists of unreached people groups.

I pray that my puny efforts at praying for the nations makes a difference in the lives of those I pray for, but I’m also very much aware and grateful at how this process has changed me.

Praying For the Nations – Not About Me

It’s far too easy for us to focus on ourselves. Those of us in America live in a culture that encourages self-focus and selfishness. But when we live our lives in that way, we tend to make our lives–including our spiritual lives–about us.

Don’t get me wrong. Jesus loves you. Jesus loves me. Jesus died to save us both. Our relationship with Him is very personal. But life is not about us. It’s about Him. It’s about sharing Him with people around us.

Praying for the nations has helped me take the focus off me and put it where it belongs.

Praying For the Nations – Lost and Dying People

Because of our tendency toward self-focused lives, we often go about our daily agendas without one whit of concern for those worldwide who don’t know Jesus.

In praying for the nations, I’ve become aware of the need of so many. It has opened my eyes to the plight of so many–many who have never heard the great good news of what Jesus did for each of us.

Praying For the Nations – If Not Us, Then Who?

Last of all, praying for the nations has made me ultra-aware that our lost and dying world is my responsibility. And if it’s my responsibility, then it is also yours. We’ve been given an incomparable treasure, a cure for the world’s ill, a message that bears repeating over and over again.

I know. I’ve been there. We look at our finite selves and our finite resources and think: “What can I do? I’m a nobody.”

Quite frankly, it’s the wrong question to ask. Why? Because our God has infinite resources and has promised to provide all we need. Instead our question should be: “If not me, then who?” This question, prayerfully asked, will then lead us to say: “Here I am, Lord. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

Yeah, it’s scary, isn’t it? That prayer of total surrender leaves us fearful of a trip to Ebola-infested Africa or miles away from those we love most. But we needn’t be afraid. Honestly, there is much we can do right where we are.

We can:

Give. Even the poorest in America are rich according to the world’s standards. We have food in our cupboards, money in the bank, a roof over our heads, and clothes on our backs. What could we sacrifice to further missionary efforts in places around the world? Giving is one of the best ways to take the focus off ourselves.
Serve. There are opportunities to reach out to the lost all around us. But let me encourage us all to not make it just about meeting physical needs (although that’s important). Instead, our efforts should mimic those of Jesus, who not only met people’s physical needs, but their spiritual needs as well. Hand others that cup of refreshing water, feed them that meal, provide them that shelter, give them a few dollars, but also ask them: “Have you heard the good news?” Be willing to get messy by becoming involved in the lives of others.
Pray. When we bombard heaven with prayers for the nations and for individuals, we unleash the very power of God in their lives. But beware: praying not only changes others, it changes us. I’m proof.

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