OCC | Pray

When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them. Then He looked to His disciples and said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Matthew 9:37–38).

Through this Scripture, He is still inviting us, you and me, into the sacred work of prayer. Before a single seed of the gospel ever takes root, prayer begins the process: breaking the ground, softening hearts, and preparing the soil for God’s Word to grow.

Just as a farmer cannot expect a fruitful field without first plowing and watering, we cannot expect a spiritual harvest without prayer. When we pray for the mission of Operation Christmas Child, for everyone involved in the process and for each shoebox as it’s packed, shipped, and delivered, we are tilling the spiritual soil of the world. Our prayers go before these boxes, asking God to ready the hearts of children and families who will receive them.

Every prayer is living water, nourishing what God is doing even when we cannot see it. Each word of intercession is a plow breaking the hard ground of unbelief. Prayer softens the heart’s soil to receive the gospel.

Like any good farmer, we must also guard the field. There are spiritual “pests” and “weeds” distractions, discouragement, and opposition, that seek to choke out the work of the gospel. So we pray warfare prayers, acting as a spiritual pesticide, asking God to protect every shoebox as it travels across borders and checkpoints. We pray that the enemy’s plans will fail, that every box will arrive safely, and that nothing will stop the good news from reaching the children it’s meant for.

As we plow and water in prayer, we also stand watch, confident that the Lord of the harvest is faithful. He will take the seeds we sow in faith and grow them into a harvest of joyful salvations.

So please, each time the Spirit brings Operation Christmas Child to mind, pray.

Gospel seeds will germinate as we till and water the soil.

How You Can Pray for Operation Christmas Child

• Pray for the children who will receive shoeboxes – that their hearts will be open to the gospel.
• Pray for families, that entire households would come to know Christ through the witness of one child.
• Pray for the pastors and churches distributing boxes, that they would be strengthened and encouraged.
• Pray for protection over every shoebox as it is packed, shipped, and delivered.
• Pray for God to raise up more workers and volunteers to join in the harvest.

So please, each time the Spirit brings Operation Christmas Child to mind- pray.

Gospel seeds will germinate as we till and water the soil.

Serving with you,
Christy Wight | OCC Volunteer

Photos: Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.