8 Powerful Scriptures to Pray Over Missionaries
The life of a full-time missionary is not for the faint of heart. They leave their homes, families, and everything they know for one purpose: to share God’s message of hope and love with the world.
Missionaries need committed supporters back home. They need monthly financial support, ministry resources, and medical and tech equipment. They long for our words of encouragement. Sometimes they even ask for our physical presence to help with large projects and outreaches. But if you ask any missionary what they need the most, you will get one consistent, resounding request: “Please pray for us!” But it can be hard to know what exactly to pray if you haven’t been there yourself or if their outgoing communication is limited.
When you’re not sure where to start, start praying scripture over them. Below are a few areas where missionaries most desire your prayers. Use these verses to help direct your prayer time and speak life-giving words over your missionaries abroad.
1. Strength and perseverance
Missionaries can often feel as though they’ve sown much with a little harvest. Pray for their strength and endurance to run the race — that the Lord would remind them He is working deep in hearts even when it seems like nothing is happening.
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
2. Encouragement
Pray against discouragement, disappointment, fear, and doubt. Ask the Lord to bring people across their path who would encourage and uplift them. Be that person yourself!
“Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” – Psalm 112:6-7
3. Provision
On a tight, missionary budget, the smallest unexpected expense can create a major financial strain. Pray for God’s provision over their family and ministry.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19
4. Protection and safety
Pray for your missionaries’ safety and protection. Ask the Lord to protect them against illness, injury, and danger.
“The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” – Psalm 121:8
5. Joy in trials
The joy of the Lord is our strength! Pray that the joy of the Lord will sustain your missionaries in every trial and setback.
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” – Psalm 126:5-6
6. Darkness lifted
Missionaries walk boldly into some of the darkest areas of the earth. They confront spiritual and physical oppression that we can’t imagine. Pray that the light of God would shine through them, lifting darkness and oppression as they share His love.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” – Isaiah 61:1
7. Divine opportunities
Ask God to set up divine appointments and open doors for ministry that only He can make possible.
“Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” – Colossians 4:3-4
8. Open hearts
Like the seeds that fell on fertile soil in the Parable of the Sower, ask the Lord to make fertile ground and prepare hearts to receive the gospel.
“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” – Jeremiah 24:7
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