Day 23: Pray for the Harvest

Prayer Focus: A Heart for the Lost

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…”
Matthew 9:37 ESV

Yesterday our prayer was:

“Lord, here I am. Send me.”

Today we ask God to help us see who He is sending us to.

“Lord, give me Your heart for people.”

See People Like Jesus

Matthew 9 tells us that when Jesus looked at the crowds, He had compassion for them because they were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36 ESV)

Jesus didn't simply see a crowd.

He saw people.

He saw their pain. He saw their brokenness. He saw their spiritual need.

Then Jesus told His disciples:

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…”
Matthew 9:37 ESV

There is no shortage of people who need Jesus.

The question is whether we are seeing them.

The Harvest Is Around Us

Sometimes we think of the harvest as something far away.

But your mission field may be much closer than you realize.

Your family.

Your neighborhood.

Your workplace.

The person you regularly see at the store.

The friend who has walked away from God.

The person who looks fine outwardly but is hurting privately.

There are people around us every day who need the hope of Jesus.

Our prayer should be:

“Lord, open my eyes.”

Pray and Go

Jesus told His disciples to pray earnestly for laborers to be sent into the harvest (Matthew 9:38).

And then He sent them.

Sometimes we pray:

“Lord, send somebody.”

And God responds:

“I'm sending you.”

You don't need a platform.

You don't need to preach a sermon.

Sometimes reaching someone begins with listening, serving, encouraging, praying, sharing your testimony, or simply telling someone about Jesus.

Today's Prayer Focus

Give Me Compassion
Help me see people the way Jesus sees them.

Open My Eyes
Show me the people around me who need You.

Save the Lost
Pray specifically for people who don't know Christ.

Send Laborers
Raise up believers who will boldly and lovingly carry the Gospel.

Today's Prayer

Father, give me Your heart for people.

Open my eyes to those around me who are hurting, searching, wandering, or far from You.

Forgive me when I become too busy to notice the harvest around me.

Give me compassion instead of judgment and courage instead of hesitation.

Draw people to Jesus. Save the lost. Bring prodigals home. Raise up laborers who will carry the Gospel.

And Lord, don't only send someone else.

Use me.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Additional Scriptures

Matthew 9:35–38
Luke 15:1–10
Romans 10:13–15
2 Peter 3:9

Today's Challenge

Choose one person who doesn't know Jesus or has walked away from Him.

Write down their name and pray specifically for them today.

Then ask:

“Lord, how can You use me to show this person the love of Jesus?”

Day 22: Here I am. Send me.
Day 23: Lord, give me Your heart for people.