Today I had the privilege of partnering with Tom Weber, pastor of Florin Church of the Brethren, to lead the section of prayer focused on churches during the National Day of Prayer Breakfast in Mount Joy at the Gathering Place. May these prayers encourage and guide us to faithfully pray for God’s people:
Holy God, we thank you, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray for your people, the bride of Christ. May you, the God of hope, fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope. (Colossians 1:3, Rom 15:13)
Almighty Father, hear us as we pray that our churches would be a pillar and buttress of the truth, that we would remember and believe and faithfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ every day, which is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (1 Timothy 3:15, Romans 1:16-17)…
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the grace of God that has been given to your people in Christ Jesus, and we pray that you, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give us the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Christ, having the eyes our our hearts enlightened, that we may know what is the hope to which you have called us, what are the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of your power toward us who believe, according to the working of your great might that you worked in Christ when you raised him from the dead & seated him at your right hand in the heavenly places.
Hear us as we pray for strength to set our minds on things above as we eagerly wait for your Son’s return (1 Cor 1:4; Ephesians 1:17-23)…
Jesus, you are the good shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep, enable your undershepherds, the pastors of our community, to pay attention to themselves and to all the flock, and to care for the church of God which you have obtained with your own precious blood (Acts 20:28). Hear us as we pray for our pastors…
Jesus you gave us the command to love one another as you have loved us, and you said it is by this love that all people will know we are your disciples. And you prayed that we would be one so that the world may believe that the Father sent you to be the savior of the world. May you make us increase and abound in love for one another and for all.
Hear us as we pray to love one another as you have loved us (John 13:34-35; John 17:21; 1 Thess 3.12)…
Holy Spirit, enable the manner of life of all our church members to be worthy of the gospel of Christ, that we may stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, knowing that we have been granted for the sake of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for his sake (Philippians 1:27-29).
Hear us as we pray for unity and strength centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ and for comfort and perseverance in the midst of suffering…
Holy Spirit, may you fill your people with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we may fully please you, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:9-14).
Hear us as we pray for our churches to be conformed to the image of Christ, that we would grow in corporate love, holiness, and sound doctrine, such that the testimony of our churches in this community would be distinctively pure and attractive, to the honor and glory of your name…
Almighty, Gracious God, we thank you our Father, for you have qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. You have delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of your beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Enable us your people to be imitators of you, O God, the God who made us, loves us, and gave himself for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen.