How to connect with partners when you’re crazy busy

September is a busy time for mission workers: classes start, schedules change, and seasons shift. It’s easy to communicate less, but times like these need the most prayer support.

We’ve been busy building a new Prayvine feature: custom subject lines. You can now customize the subject lines of emails sent from Prayvine. We’ve created a short video/article with instructions.

Here are three quick, simple ways to connect well with partners when you’re busy:

1. Keep it short and be direct.

Here’s some good news for busy times: fewer words often leads to more prayer. In fact, our research shows that 75–150 words results in the most prayer support. You don’t need to explain everything in detail or wait for a “good story” to ask for prayer.

And don’t be shy about why you’re reaching out. Clearly ask for prayer, so your partners know exactly how to participate in what God’s doing.

2. Don’t procrastinate. You can click “send” in less than 5 minutes.

When the Holy Spirit puts a prayer request on your heart, don’t let that moment slip away. It’s all too easy for “I’ll do it later” to become “it slipped my mind.” As the Psalmist writes, “When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments” (Psalm 119:59–60, ESV).

3. Be like Moses: ask for prayer support!

If you feel like you’re too busy to communicate with your ministry partners, we invite you to remember Moses.

Moses was a tremendous leader whose faithful obedience glorified the Lord. But he didn’t do it alone. When his hands tired at the work the Lord had given him, he was supported by faithful men at his side (Exodus 17:11–13). They held his hands up, watched the battle rage, and worshipped the Lord as they witnessed his power and protection together.

You have believers by your side, eager to pray and ready to support you in this busy season. But do they know where the battle is? Have you asked them to hold up your hands? Have you shared where you’ve seen answers to prayer recently?

When the calendar is full, draw close to the Lord and ask those around you to pray. There is so much opportunity when we reach out and say, “Join me in this messy, beautiful work. Watch what God can do through us together!”