Ways to Pray for Missionary Women
By Marti Smith
Pray for Single Women
Identity. Many single women have trouble defining and becoming comfortable with their roles on the field and in the local culture, although accepted, respected roles may exist. Pray that they would see themselves with God’s eyes and discover the place he has for them.
Friendships. Single women often have more opportunities to be “adopted” into their host culture than other missionaries do, yet may struggle to find meaningful friendships and feel understood. Ask God to bless them with rich relationships with local and expatriate friends.
Boundaries. Without a husband to look out for them, many single women on the field have a hard time knowing when to work and when to rest. Ask God to give them wisdom and “permission” to say no, take breaks, and do the things that refresh and renew them.
Spirituality. Life on the field offers single women many opportunities to depend on and grow in their relationships with God. Pray they would discover the spiritual blessings that await them.
Life Decisions. Many singles on the field would rather be married. Pray for their contentment while they are single, as well as wisdom and grace in decisions about pursuing particular relationships or leaving the field.
Pray for Married Women
Identity. Married women, especially those with children, may find themselves wearing many “hats.” Many struggle with guilt or shame as they go through transitions and balance ministry and family life. Ask God to give them peace to accept what he has for them in each season.
Language. Even women gifted in language-learning may have trouble finding the time to study and become comfortable in the language of their new culture. This is especially true of those with children, and greatly delays their adjustment. Pray for creative solutions to this challenge.
Marriage. In cultures where friendship between spouses may not be valued and ministries that keep them busy but working separately, many find partnership in marriage quite difficult. Ask God to preserve marriages and grant couples unity, peace, and joy.
Parenting. Raising children overseas may hold great challenges, and each child and situation may require a different solution. Ask God to give parents wisdom as they make decisions to protect and nurture their children as well as to help them grow and be comfortable in the culture.
Spirituality. Getting good time alone for journaling, reading, and spending time with God may be even more difficult for women on the field as it is for women at home. Pray for the moms, especially, to find or make time to spend with the Lord and experience the refreshment he would offer them.
Life Decisions. Knowing when to start a family, when to have another child, and how to do what is best for the family can be difficult. Sometimes these things are beyond our control. Ask God to give missionaries wisdom and peace in these decisions, and when things don’t go according to plan, grace not to compare themselves to one another or give in to bitterness or self-pity.
Pray for Rookie Missionaries
Expectations. New workers may not know what it will really be like for them when they are overseas, so making good plans can be difficult. This can be very stressful. Pray for good communication with their new team or potential coworkers as they explore personal expectations and needs.
Humility. Moving overseas often holds both huge and subtle shifts in identity. Women may find themselves giving up their careers and setting aside gifts, skills, and strengths, at least for a time. Pray for grace to embrace their identity in Christ and humility to accept changes that come.
Enculturation. Language and culture learning may be some of the most draining things about beginning a new life on the field, yet they are also the very things that bring a worker to a place of contentment and effectiveness. Pray for women to have courage and energy for this process.
Pray for Seasoned Veterans
Perseverance. As their relationships deepen, missionaries find their capacity to be hurt by setbacks and betrayals grows as well. Many missionaries in the Muslim world may still see little fruit after many years, or may see their work collapse. Pray against weariness and discouragement.
Influence. Those who stay on the field may have many opportunities to care for and equip those who come after them, both new workers and local believers. Ask God to give these veterans hope and perseverance as they watch others come and go.
Evaluation. Many missionaries put a good deal of energy into deciding how to get started, but may not know when and how to finish well and leave. Ask God to give missionaries wisdom in defining their roles and tasks in each season even when that means it is time to go home.
Pray for More Workers
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields.” – Matthew 9:37-38
Pray for Single Women
Identity. Many single women have trouble defining and becoming comfortable with their roles on the field and in the local culture, although accepted, respected roles may exist. Pray that they would see themselves with God’s eyes and discover the place he has for them.
Friendships. Single women often have more opportunities to be “adopted” into their host culture than other missionaries do, yet may struggle to find meaningful friendships and feel understood. Ask God to bless them with rich relationships with local and expatriate friends.
Boundaries. Without a husband to look out for them, many single women on the field have a hard time knowing when to work and when to rest. Ask God to give them wisdom and “permission” to say no, take breaks, and do the things that refresh and renew them.
Spirituality. Life on the field offers single women many opportunities to depend on and grow in their relationships with God. Pray they would discover the spiritual blessings that await them.
Life Decisions. Many singles on the field would rather be married. Pray for their contentment while they are single, as well as wisdom and grace in decisions about pursuing particular relationships or leaving the field.
Pray for Married Women
Identity. Married women, especially those with children, may find themselves wearing many “hats.” Many struggle with guilt or shame as they go through transitions and balance ministry and family life. Ask God to give them peace to accept what he has for them in each season.
Language. Even women gifted in language-learning may have trouble finding the time to study and become comfortable in the language of their new culture. This is especially true of those with children, and greatly delays their adjustment. Pray for creative solutions to this challenge.
Marriage. In cultures where friendship between spouses may not be valued and ministries that keep them busy but working separately, many find partnership in marriage quite difficult. Ask God to preserve marriages and grant couples unity, peace, and joy.
Parenting. Raising children overseas may hold great challenges, and each child and situation may require a different solution. Ask God to give parents wisdom as they make decisions to protect and nurture their children as well as to help them grow and be comfortable in the culture.
Spirituality. Getting good time alone for journaling, reading, and spending time with God may be even more difficult for women on the field as it is for women at home. Pray for the moms, especially, to find or make time to spend with the Lord and experience the refreshment he would offer them.
Life Decisions. Knowing when to start a family, when to have another child, and how to do what is best for the family can be difficult. Sometimes these things are beyond our control. Ask God to give missionaries wisdom and peace in these decisions, and when things don’t go according to plan, grace not to compare themselves to one another or give in to bitterness or self-pity.
Pray for Rookie Missionaries
Expectations. New workers may not know what it will really be like for them when they are overseas, so making good plans can be difficult. This can be very stressful. Pray for good communication with their new team or potential coworkers as they explore personal expectations and needs.
Humility. Moving overseas often holds both huge and subtle shifts in identity. Women may find themselves giving up their careers and setting aside gifts, skills, and strengths, at least for a time. Pray for grace to embrace their identity in Christ and humility to accept changes that come.
Enculturation. Language and culture learning may be some of the most draining things about beginning a new life on the field, yet they are also the very things that bring a worker to a place of contentment and effectiveness. Pray for women to have courage and energy for this process.
Pray for Seasoned Veterans
Perseverance. As their relationships deepen, missionaries find their capacity to be hurt by setbacks and betrayals grows as well. Many missionaries in the Muslim world may still see little fruit after many years, or may see their work collapse. Pray against weariness and discouragement.
Influence. Those who stay on the field may have many opportunities to care for and equip those who come after them, both new workers and local believers. Ask God to give these veterans hope and perseverance as they watch others come and go.
Evaluation. Many missionaries put a good deal of energy into deciding how to get started, but may not know when and how to finish well and leave. Ask God to give missionaries wisdom in defining their roles and tasks in each season even when that means it is time to go home.
Pray for More Workers
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields.” – Matthew 9:37-38