Hands-on Harvesting

Jesus told them: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Luke 10:2

The North American Mission Board (NAMB), challenged our nation’s churches to pray Luke 10:2 everyday at 10:02. And since last night was October 2, churches around the nation (including mine) held a special prayer service for God to send laborers into the field.

As one of the volunteers in the youth group, I know how hard working in the field is. Every student is at a different stage in their walk with God. Some are blossoming and ready to join us as workers. Others are still a little green on the vine and need more time and maturity. And still more are like the Basil seeds I’m trying to sprout on paper towels in my kitchen – they are surrounded by everything they need but rather than sprout, grow, and produce good fruit, they are rotting.

My heart breaks – What if the workers are afraid to go into the fields? What will happen to the harvest?

Last night, I had to repent of a lack of prayerfulness. As I sat in the pew, surrounded by youth students, I remembered that God and God alone will have to break the hard soil of their hearts. I asked God that He would send co-laborers to my field in particular – that other adults would flock to these students and show them what life looks like centered around Christ.

And then it hit me – that almighty conviction from the Holy Spirit – I am a laborer, too. I always assumed that being in the field automatically won me the prize for laborer of the year. But just because I’m here, doesn’t mean I’m working diligently and intentionally following God’s guidance.

So I found myself in a state of prayerfulness (which is particularly good, especially when sitting in a prayer service). All of this was compounded by a novel I finished the week (blog post to come) about a lady who prayed for two hours a day but not to our Yahweh God but to “god” (really to herself). If she can sit in meditation daily to a fake deity that cannot answer her, surely I can pray throughout my lunch break to the Mighty God who is able to save.