The Missionary’s Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Canadian Thanksgiving was last month; American Thanksgiving is next week. This is the ideal time for those of us who serve as missionaries to pause and thank the Lord for the blessing of his call on our lives. I offer this prayer as a guide for doing just that.

Dear Lord Jesus, I am grateful that…

You have granted me the privilege to serve you cross-culturally

You have given me a burden for these people to whom you have sent me

You have given me a passion to serve you and these people well

I thank you that…

I am sent out by my mission-minded church as their ambassador

I am upheld in prayer by many persevering saints

I am financially supported by a faithful support team

I receive on-going moral support from many who encourage

I am well supplied and technologically connected

I have the government’s permission to live in this country to which you have called me

I have valuable coworkers who help share the work

I have discerning national partners who help direct my way

I have an understanding spouse who gracefully shares the load

I have a good grasp of the language, so I may communicate well

I have a growing understanding of the culture so I may fit in well

I have a familiarity with these people’s worldview so I may not be judgmental

I have the inspiring examples of many others who served cross-culturally before me

I have superintending leaders who want to see me and this work succeed

I have your Word that is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

I have your presence that promises help whether in danger or keeping me from it

I have your Spirit that enlightens, counsels and comforts me

I have opportunity to pray that reminds me to, by faith, depend on you

I have, by my presence here, a testimony of light within this darkened community

Additionally, I thank you that…

I am no longer mono-cultural with truncated life experiences

I am no longer monolingual with the limitations of speaking just one language

I am no longer fixated on one country, but am willing to live as a sojourner any where

I am no longer entangled in worldly possessions or affairs that distract from your calling

I am no longer looking backward, but forward and upward to what is yet to come

Dear Jesus, thank you for the honor of serving as your missionary – as a bearer of your gospel – at this particular time and in this specific place.

Amen