The Lord of the Harvest

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:38)

Praying the names of God— It always honors God when our prayers begin with worship, focusing our attention on Him rather than on our needs and requests. Jesus taught us that we should come to our Father to “hallow His name” before we ask for our daily needs to be met (Matthew 6:9-11).

To hallow God’s name is to take the time to understand what it represents of His divine nature and character, of how He is able and willing to work in our lives. When we are interceding, we have a specific need— and calling on Him by one of His revealed names is saying to Him, this is who I need You to be in answer to my prayer. When in turmoil, we need Him to be our Prince of Peace. Seeking guidance, we come to our Shepherd to lead us. In financial stress, we call out to our Provider. For the lost, we cry to the Lord of the harvest.

Jesus said—commanded, according to the tense of the verb—that we should pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into His harvest field. We know that as intercessors, we’re an important part of those workers (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Our prayers pave the way for our Father to draw them, to enable them to come and to send His Holy Spirit to grant them rebirth (John 6:44; 6:65; 3:3, 5). Our prayers help open the door for divine appointments for the workers He sends into the field.

The Lord of the harvest will send someone into the life of a friend or loved one to plant a seed, a grain of truth in his or her heart, and He will prevent Satan from snatching away that truth (Matthew 13:19). When we come to the Lord of the harvest, we are acknowledging His authority, His control—it is His field, His harvest, His initiative that sends the workers and prepares the hearts of the lost. The Lord of the harvest will make sure the seed is nurtured, fed and watered, able to grow until it’s ripe and ready. The Lord of the harvest will send someone at precisely the right moment to gather that soul into the kingdom. Using His name, Lord of the harvest, reveals that we understand these things and that we have the faith to believe and to anticipate the harvest, no matter how long it takes! 

Our help is in the name of the Lord...” (Psalm 124:8)