Praying for the Harvest
Luke 10:2 – “He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”
In Luke 10, we see Jesus selecting 72 disciples to preach in cities he was going to visit. They were told to heal the sick and announce the arrival of the kingdom of God. Before sending the seventy-two out on mission, Jesus invited them into intercessory prayer. David Platt defines intercession as a form of “desperate prayer” through which believers partner with God to accomplish His will on Earth. This is where we can stand in the gap between God and people. Jesus reminds the crowd that the work of ministry doesn’t begin with our mouths, our hands, or our minds.
It begins on our knees.
The harvest has always belonged to the Lord, and our first act of partnership with Him is to pray for those He will send — and to be willing for that prayer to include us. When Jesus looked out over the crowds, He didn’t see inconvenience. He didn’t see interruptions. He didn’t see a to-do list. He saw a harvest — people ready to experience the love and hope of God. And His first instruction wasn’t “Go.” It was “Pray.”
At Harvester Christian Church, when we lift a desperate prayer for “our One,” we are joining Jesus in His heart for the lost. We’re not just praying for opportunities to serve; we’re asking God to open eyes, soften hearts, and prepare both the laborers and the harvest. Every time you pray for a neighbor, a co-worker, a teacher, a student, or a family in need, you are cultivating spiritual soil that the Holy Spirit can grow something eternal in.
Intercessory prayer isn’t a small task — it’s the spiritual groundwork of every movement of God. When you pause to pray before serving in the pantry, before walking into a school, or before greeting a guest at an outreach event, you’re aligning your heart with the heart of the Harvester — Jesus Himself.
Our call is to see the harvest as He sees it. It’s not a burden to be carried; it’s not task to be scheduled into our lives; it’s a promise to be fulfilled. And when we pray for the laborers — for others and for ourselves — we are saying to God, “Use me, too.”
Reflection Questions
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When you think of “the harvest,” who in your life comes to mind as your One—the person God has placed on your heart to pray for?
- When you think of ‘the laborers,” who in your life do you need to invite to join you in service to others inside and outside of Harvester?
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How might you intentionally include intercessory prayer in your serving rhythm—before, during, and after you serve?
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What would it look like for you to say “yes” if God answered your prayer by sending you into the harvest field?
Intercessory Prayer
Hey God,
You are the Lord of the Harvest. Thank You for allowing us to see what You see — a world full of people who are loved, seen, and ready to know You. When we were still powerless ourselves, you died for us, the ungodly. Because we have been reconciled, we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ that as many others as possible will come to know the love of Jesus. Stir in us a holy compassion for the lost and a deep burden to pray for those who labor in Your name. We lift our fellow workers in the harvest — every volunteer, every servant, every neighbor who carries Your light into dark places. Strengthen them, protect them, and fill them with Your Spirit. We desperately pray for our Ones — those who are far from You but not far from Your heart. Prepare the soil of their hearts to receive the good news of Jesus. Open doors for us to speak truth, to show love, and to live lives that point directly to You. And Lord, if the answer to our prayer for more laborers is us, give us the courage to go. Send us where you will. Use our hands, our words, and our presence to bring in the harvest that You have already prepared.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
