The place of prayer in SIM
SIM saturates the sending and supporting of missionaries with prayer. It's a discipline and gift we use to share in the joy and burdens of fellow believers around the world.
As we're dependent on God to soften hearts to the message of salvation, provide resources, cover us with protection and direct us, we come before him regularly to ask for his favor where SIM workers serve. "By prayer," SIM carries out ministry and life — it's central to all we do.
Who do we pray for?
SIM prays for our leaders, ministry partners, office personnel, mission workers and the many who don’t know Jesus yet. We pray for those we know dearly, have briefly met or only know by name. As members of the global church, we recognise God’s power to bind us together in unity through prayer.
How do we pray?
We pray as God’s children to the Father who delights in giving us good gifts. As children, our Father has instructed us to pray – so we faithfully obey.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11, NIV)
Although we pray obediently, we also pray boldly. We know God hears our prayers – and that he listens. Because of Jesus’ perfect substitution, we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV).
In sacred persistence, we return to God entreating him to extend mercy, deliverance, courage and much more.
How often do we pray?
In the spirit of Paul’s words “pray without ceasing,” we aim to constantly draw near to God in prayer. Yet SIM has specific times throughout the day, month and year for focused prayer in a variety of settings.
For example, SIM prays every day for specific countries and ministries across the globe. Following our yearly prayer guide, we read about the vision, ministries, least-reached people groups and requests of SIM teams.
SIM also sets apart the period between Ascension Day and Pentecost each year for prayer and reflection. Mark the 10 Days of Prayer on your calendar to join us in a dedicated time of renewal: 21-30 May, 2020.
Founders Day is another yearly time of prayer that we take. It's centred on intercession, and it's a day of rememberance for how God has been faithful since the days of SIM's founders.
What prayer tools do we use?
Besides the Prayer Guide booklet, we have several other resources to encourage us to endure and flourish in our prayer lives. Our SIM By Prayer app is a helpful tool that notifies you about daily prayer requests as you go through your routine. It offers prayer tracks and Bible verse alerts to bring to mind God’s mission to redeem people in every nation.