Connecting with the Holy Spirit

Prayer is the first step in attracting others to Christ.

 

Devote yourselves of prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ… Colossians 4:2,3

If we are going to make an evangelistic impact on our community, we need to learn how to talk to God about people before we talk to people about God. When we do this, we depend on our sovereign Lord to work in, through, and with us as we evangelize the lost.

In short, as we prepare to share Christ with others, we must fervently pray that God will go before us. When we pray for the lost, we are saying to God, “You go first! If you don’t go first, all our efforts will be in vain.”

Preparing to pray

Here are a few items to go through to prepare your heart for prayer. Take some time to meditate on each of these or journal through them as you begin your prayer time.

Thankfulness: What are you thankful for?

  • Your own salvation.
  • God's redemptive work in your own life.
  • That you can have a big role in someone else's salvation.

Purity: Do you have unconfessed sin?

  • Ask God to reveal hidden sins in your heart.
  • Seek reconciliation with God and others.

Confidence: Come before God with His promises.

What to pray for

  • More Laborers: Jesus commanded us to pray for others to join us in the work of the harvest. (Luke 10:2)
  • Opportunity: Pray that God would provide opportunities to share your faith. (Colossians 4:3) Pray also that you would be able to share the Gospel with boldness (Ephesians 6:19-20) and clarity (Colossians 4:4).
  • Receptive Hearts: Pray that God would soften the hearts of those you share your faith with. (Luke 8:5-12)
  • Conviction of Sin: In order to be saved, each of us must acknowledge our sins and our need of Christ's forgiveness. (John 16:8)
  • Transformation: With salvation comes a transformed life. Pray that those who accept salvation will be transformed into a new creation. (Romans 12:1-2)

Ways to pray

Harvest List

Make a list of people who need Christ in their lives. Think of co-workers, friends, neighbors, relatives and acquaintances. Keep your "harvest list" in front of you throughout the day so you remember to pray regularly.

Prayer in Motion

Journey through your world and pray for others as you walk, run, bicycle or drive. As you pray, you'll be inspired to pray for things you observe, know and hear along the way. Take walks through your neighborhood and pray for each household. As you pass other walkers/joggers/bikers on your journey, pray for their spiritual lives. Driving to work or home, pray for the other drivers around you.

Prayer Visitation

Visit homes, hospitals and so forth to ask for prayer requests. This approach allows open doors for believers to care and share Christ with others. As we pray for people and their needs, God builds relationships and opens hearts to the Good News.

Prayer Groups

Meet with a few other believers regularly to pray together. Praying in a group helps us stay focused. As you continue to meet, you'll be encouraged to continue in prayer through answered prayers.

upcoming prayer events

In addition to seeking God in prayer individually, you can participate in prayer events at your church location. Together, we are united in prayer to bring others to Christ.

Check your location's announcements for scheduled events. As they are scheduled, we will also add them here.