Praying For The Harvest

My children have probably heard me say at least a hundred times, "work smarter, not harder." This statement is intended to make them think about what they're going to do before they jump in and do it, so they take the wisest course of action. I've also said this to teach them that its “smarter” to ask for help when they need it. Instead of struggling to move something heavy all by themselves, they can ask their dad for help. That is smarter, instead of the hard work of moving it by themselves. It's another way of saying, "you don't have to attempt the project alone."

Working in the harvest field ("fishing for people”) is something you're not intended to do alone. In fact, it's not just "harder" to do alone, it's impossible to do alone. If you try to harvest alone, you will absolutely fail. We need help from the "Lord of the harvest."

Read John 6:44.

Read John 16:7-11.

Without the Holy Spirit working to convict lost people of their sin and the Father working to draw people to His Son to save them, our efforts to harvest are useless. We may try harder, but it's not smarter. We need God’s power enabling us to fish for men and reap a harvest.

Working smarter means praying... asking God for help. Corrie ten Boom said, "prayer is powerful. The devil smiles when we make plans. He laughs when we get too busy. But he trembles when we pray." Let's spend a few minutes praying.

Take a moment now to write the names of three spiritually lost friends. Now spend a couple minutes praying, asking the Father to draw your friends to Jesus, and asking the Holy Spirit to convict them of their sin and their need for Jesus to forgive and save them.

Now ask the Lord of the harvest to raise up workers (fishers of people) for the harvest. Remember that it is God's field, and He desires a harvest.

Are you willing to be a worker for Him? Would you like to see a friend of yours who is a believer become a worker? Write down their name. Tell God you're willing to become a worker in His Harvest and pray for that friend right now to become a worker too.

Read Colossians 4:2-6.

v.3 - that He will doors for you to share

v. 4 - that you will proclaim the gospel

v.5 - that you will be in your conduct

v.5 - that you will recognize and take advantage of them

v. 6 - that you will share with humility and (engage, not enrage people)

v. 6 - that you will ask good questions and provide good