Praying for Our Church
1. Pastor
Lord, we lift-up our pastor to You. Thank You for his servant’s heart. Keep him from losing heart when ministry gets tough. We speak over him,
2 Cor. 4:1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
We pray, help him prove faithful with the things you have entrusted to him. Teach him Your ways so that he knows you and finds favor with You as He leads us. Keep him open and honest before You and help him to represent the truth plainly. We speak over Pastor,
1 Cor. 4:1-3 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. We pray Ex. 33:13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.
We pray for our Pastor, that he may always deliver what you Lord has put on his heart and do what you called him to,
Colossians 4:2-4 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
2. Leadership, Elders
Lord, we lift-up our Leadership board and elders to You. Help us respect and honor them as they direct the affairs of our church. May they wholeheartedly give their attention to prayer and ministry of the Word. Keep them above reproach, devoted to their families, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable and able to teach. May they be gentle and honest as they deal with people. We speak over our leaders,
We pray over them
1 Tim. 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
We also pray
1 Tim. 3:1-3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. We also pray Titus 1:7 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
3. Adults
Lord, we lift-up the adults in our congregation to You. May we live worthy of Your call on our lives. We pray
Eph. 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
As we respond to that call, fulfill every purpose, every faith-filled act of service by Your power. We speak over them
2 Thes. 1:11 11 With this in mind, we constantly pray or you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.
May we be clothed in righteousness with hearts that sing for joy and delight greatly in You. We want to walk with You, Jesus, dressed in white, adorned with jewels. We also pray
Isa. 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
4. Children/Youth
Lord, we lift-up the children and youth in our congregation to You. May the little ones remain humble examples of what we adults need to become in the kingdom. Let their conduct always be pure and right with reputations that show that they remember You, Creator
God. We pray over them
Deut 6: 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Help us to teach them to declare Your marvelous deeds. We pray
Ps. 71:17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds
May they flee evil desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. We pray over them
2 Tim. 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
We pray our children will learn how to be God centered not Self-centered. We pray over them
Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
5. Families
Lord we lift-up our families to you. We pray that you will give them Godly expectations, visions and desires for their families. We pray for Godly instruction as our families enter different phases of their lives. We pray
Col 4:6, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.”
We pray for our families
Prov 3:1-7 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
We pray our families would have a hunger to know God, we pray
Matt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Lord Jesus help us as the Body of Christ to be in Unity in raising up an Army that will shelter, defend and train our children. We pray over them
1 Peter 5:2-8 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.1 Peter 5:2-8 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
6. Seniors
Lord, we lift-up the senior members of our congregation. Thank You for every gray hair attained by righteous living. We speak over them
Prov. 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.
We are blessed by their example and ability to train us. We pray
Titus 2:4 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children.
We also pray
Job 12:12 Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long-life bring understanding?
Help us to be humbly submissive as we benefit from their wisdom and understanding. We pray
1 Pet. 5:5 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Help them receive the strength and power You’ve promised to the weary and weak. We pray
Isa. 40:29 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
May they put their hope in You and be renewed in the process, we pray
Isa 40: 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
7. Lost Among Us
Lord, we lift-up the lost people of our families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and people that may be in church. Let the gospel be presented to them not only through sermons but also with power, the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. Teach us to make the most of every opportunity to share Your salvation. Help us to be the fragrance of Christ to them. We pray your word,
1 Thes. 1:5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
We pray, Lord, that when you reveal opportunities to share about you, that you give us strength to obey, when you open those doors. We pray
Col. 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.;
also we pray we are
2 Cor. 2:15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
We stand against the enemy and his attempts to keep them people blinded to Your truth, we pray
2 Cor. 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
We also pray that you will send your messengers to deliver your Word to our families and friends that that are not near us, we pray
John 4:35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
8. Worship Leaders
Lord, we lift-up our worship leaders. We thank you for the people in this position who understand the splendor of Your holiness and we praise You out of that understanding. Help them lead us faithfully in thanksgiving for Your enduring love. We pray
Jer 33:11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying, “Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.”
… Use their praise to defeat the enemy. We pray
2 Chron. 20:21-22 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.” 22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
Lord, we pray that they and we be the true worshipers You are looking for who worship in spirit and in truth.
Jn. 4:23-24 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Lord we pray that they and we glory only in You, Jesus, so that they put no confidence in their own flesh
Phil. 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
9. Speakers/Teachers/Guest
Lord, we lift-up the speakers and teachers in our church. May everyone who holds that position—pastors, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, guest speakers—rightly divide Your word of truth. We pray Lord,
2 Tim. 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Let them admonish and teach with wisdom. We speak
Col. 1:28 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
Reveal the mysteries of Your word to them and encourage them to speak those mysteries courageously and fearlessly. We declare
Dan. 2:47 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
Let them speak with a spirit of faith that springs from their relationship with You. We speak
Phil. 1:14 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.;
Also we pray
2 Cor. 4:13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,
10. Women’s Ministry
Lord, we lift-up our Women’s Ministry. Encourage our older women to train the younger in family issues. We pray over them,
Titus 2:4-5 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Teach our women to be virtuous women with gentle and quiet spirits who put their hope in You. We pray,
Pro. 31:10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Let this ministry produce women who feel Your passion for them and who choose to spend time at Your feet. Train them to contend for the gospel side by side with the men. We pray,
1 Pet. 3:4-6 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
11. Men’s Ministry
Lord, we lift-up our Men’s Ministry to You. Use this ministry to build our men in their faith. We pray,
Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.
Teach them to be in right relationship to You and each other, we pray,
Eph. 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respectthe mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ
and to love their wives sacrificially and to instruct their children with patience. We pray,
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
and we pray,
Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Encourage them to hold each other accountable, we pray,
Prov 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. as they carry each other’s burdens.
We pray,
Gal. 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
May they speak the truth in love to each other even when it’s hard.
Prov. 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
12. Youth Workers
Lord, we lift-up our Youth Workers. Let these young men and women set an
example in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. We pray,
1 Tim. 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity
Cause them to be strong, alive-in-the-Word overcomers. We pray,
1 Jn 2:14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Help them to have discernment as they deal with the young people in our church. We pray,
Prov. 3:21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;
Help them to notice any youth who lacks judgment so they can teach them to value Your life-giving principles. We pray,
Prov 7:7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
Also, we pray
Prov 7:2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
We pray, pour out Your Spirit on them, we pray,
Joel 2:28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
13. Behind-the-Scenes Workers and servants
Lord, we lift-up the people who work behind the scenes at our church. Thank You for every nursery workers, hospitality table and parking lot attendants, connection table workers, media workers, office manager, building janitor, set-up and tear down people and etc. these people devote themselves to the service of the saints. We pray over them
2 Cor. 9:12-13 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
Bless them for the obedience and generosity they have displayed—may You receive praise as a result! Keep them in an attitude of humility that comes from wisdom and whole-hearted service to You rather than to be noticed by others. We pray
Jas. 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
We also pray
Eph. 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.
14. Children’s Ministries
Lord, I lift-up our children’s ministries to You. Create an atmosphere here that encourages our children to find You. We pray
Mk 10:14 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Let the teachers be careful to remind each child of the marvelous things You have done. We pray
Dt. 4:9 9 Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Cause everything, they learn about You to become a part of them forever. We pray
Dt 29:29 29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
May they consistently choose life and blessing each day because of the training they receive in our church. We pray
Dt 30:19 19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Keep them walking in the truth; we pray
Prov 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Also, we pray
3 Jn 1:4 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
15. House of Prayer
Lord, I lift-up the prayer focus in my church. Make us into a House of Prayer. We pray
Mk. 11:17 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nation---
We desire to be clear-minded and self-controlled so that we can pray first, we pray
Phil. 4:6 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,
always, continually and thankfully.
1 Tim. 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—
May everyone recognize that this is Your desire for all and not just a few. We pray
Eph. 6:18 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Use us to stand in the gap for others. We pray
Ps. 32:6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
Let us pray
1 Thes. 5:17-18 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Let there be prayer ministry among us that is powerful and effective we pray
Jas. 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Also, we pray
Ps. 32:6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
16. Spiritual Level
Lord, I pray for the spiritual temperature of us and our church. Revive us! We pray
Ps. 85:6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Refine us so that we burn hot for You.
Titus 2:14 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Give us singleness of heart and action so that we always fear You and follow Your precepts.
We pray
Ps. 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
We also pray
Jer. 32:39 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them.
Pour out a spirit of Josiah on us so that we turn to You heart, soul and
strength. We pray
2 Ki. 23:25 25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.
Open our minds to understand Your Word so that our hearts burn within us. We pray
Luke 24:32 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”.
We also pray
Lk. 24:45 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
17. Spirit-Led
Lord, I lift-up the issue of our willingness to be led by Your Spirit. Holy Spirit, show us any way we are grieving, quenching or resisting You. We pray
Eph. 4:30 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption,
also we pray
1 Thes. 5:19 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
Convict us and lead us to level ground. We pray
Ps. 143:10 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Help us keep in step with You as we live by You. We pray
Gal. 5:25 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Reign in us so that we experience Your freedom. We pray
2 Cor. 3:17 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Lead us into grace, life and peace. We pray
Ro. 8:6 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
18. Spiritual Gifts
Lord, I lift-up the use of spiritual gifts in our church. We pray
1 Cor. 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
We eagerly desire spiritual gifts that You’ve given for our common good. We pray
1 Cor 12:6-10 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
Help us understand the various gifts and how they work. We pray
1 Cor 12:4-7 4 There are different kindsof gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
Teach us to use what we’ve received to serve others and faithfully administer Your grace—whatever form that takes. We pray
1 Pet. 4:10 -11 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Help us exercise our gifts in love. Remind us to keep fanning into flame the gifts You’ve entrusted to us.
2 Tim. 1:6 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
19. Love/Unity
Lord, I lift-up our love for one another as a body. We speak
1 Pet. 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. Help us purify ourselves by obeying the truth so that our love for each other will be sincere, deep and from the heart.
May our love for one another prove that we are Your disciples. We pray
Jn. 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Give us a spirit of unity so that we may glorify You with one heart and voice. We pray
Col. 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Help us accept one another as we clothe ourselves in love. We pray
Ro. 15:5-7 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
20. Finances
Lord, I lift-up our church finances. May we sow generously into our church without reluctance or compulsion. We pray
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you
Make all grace abound so we have all we need for every good work You’ve assigned us. We pray
2 Cor. 9:6-11 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Make us rich in ways that result in generosity on our part so You will be praised. Keep reminding us of your promise to throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessing on all who bring the whole tithe into Your house. We pray
Mal. 3:10 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
21. Outreach/Missions Projects
Lord, I lift-up our outreach programs. Remind us to do good and share with others as a pleasing sacrifice to You. We pray
Heb. 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Keep us outwardly focused so we don’t become self-absorbed. We pray
Phil. 2:4 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Help us teach one another to be faithful ministers of Your Son. Enable us to meet people wherever they have a need. We pray
Gal 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Help us minister faithfully as we proclaim the gospel so that the ones we reach might become an acceptable offering to You. We pray
Rom 15:16 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
We also pray
Jude 1:23 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
22. Single parents
Lord, I lift-up the single parents in our church. May they know You as father to the fatherless and defender of widows! We pray
Ps. 68:5-6 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling., 6 God sets the lonely in families, [a] he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Let us be a real family to them when they are lonely. We pray
Ps 25:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Show us ways to include them and minister grace to them. We pray
2 Cor. 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
We also pray
Matt. 25:35-36 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Stir up practical ideas in us that show Your love and care. Help them relax in Your grace and provision which is more than enough for every weakness and need. We pray
Phil. 4:19 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
23. Help for the Hurting
Lord, I lift-up those who are hurting right now. May they come to know You as El Roi, the God who sees them. We pray
Gen. 16:13 13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen [a] the One who sees me.”
For every situation of rejection, help them feel sonship. We pray
Ro. 8:15 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. [a] And by him we cry, “Abba, [b] Father.”.
Bind up the broken-hearted! In every area of bondage, set the captives free; in every case of mourning, replace it with Your oil of gladness.
Isa. 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Comfort them so that they will have a ministry of comfort to others. We also pray
2 Cor. 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
24. Freedom from besetting sins
Lord, I lift-up every one of us who struggle with sin issues. We pray
Ro. 12: 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Keep us from the enemy’s scheme of condemnation. We pray
Ro. 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Grant us repentance so that we can escape the trap of the evil one. We also pray
2 Tim. 2:25, 26 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Thank You that sin was done away with on the cross and that we are no longer slaves to it. We pray
Ro. 6:6 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, [a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Help us to throw off everything that entangles—help us run the race with perseverance, we pray
Heb. 12:1 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
25. Kingdom focus/priorities
Lord, I lift-up our priorities as a congregation. Give us ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying to our church. We pray
Rev. 3: 22 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Open our eyes to see things as You see them. We pray
2 Ki. 6:17 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Help us move beyond issues of immediate need to pursuing Kingdom issues. We pray
Matt. 6:25 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
We also pray
Matt 6:33 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well
Bring us to a place where “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is more than words we say. We pray
Matt 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
26. Growth through evangelism
Lord, I lift-up our church growth to You. Add to our number daily through new converts. We pray
Acts 2:47 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Birth spiritual children through us. Let our actions win people over without words. We pray
1 Cor. 4:15 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
Use us as Your agents to rescue people from darkness and bring them into Your Son’s kingdom. We pray
Col. 1:13 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
We long to be worthy ambassadors in this ministry You have entrusted to us: that of proclaiming Your message of reconciliation to a lost world.
2 Cor 5:20 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
27. Our neighborhood
Lord, I lift-up our community, especially the surrounding neighborhood. Let us love these people as we love ourselves. We pray
Gal. 5:14 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
May our concern for their needs override other things that take our time and focus. We pray
Prov. 3:28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.
Rebuild and restore areas that have been devastated. We pray
Isa. 61:4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Renew our community—send Your peace and prosperity into this place where You’ve planted us. We pray
Jer. 29:7 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Bless, each individual home and family. We pray
Lk 10:5-6 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.
Build each house from the inside out; watch over our city we pray
Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
28. Connectivity with the Church in our city
Lord, I lift-up the Church in our city. Thank You for creating the body as one unit made up of many parts. Help us understand the value of each part as You have arranged them. We confess that we’ve minimized other parts. Forgive us, for we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body. Help us to work at being one: concerned about one another—suffering with and rejoicing with other congregations as appropriate. We pray
1 Cor. 12:12-26 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
29. Connectivity with the Church in our nation
Lord, I lift-up the Church in our nation. We humbly unite and confess as one people—one Church called by Your name—that we have sinned. We’ve operated out of acquired wealth thinking we could do it on our own—but we are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. We pray
Rev. 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
We seek Your face, O God! Thank You for hearing and forgiving us. We wait on You for the healing of our land! We pray
2 Chron. 7:14 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
30. Connectivity with the Church around the world
Lord, I lift-up the Church universal. Father, we claim the power of Your name over us so that we will be one, as You and Your Son are one. We want Your joy in full measure just as Your Son, Jesus, prayed for us. Help us live as though we are not of this world; sanctify us by Your word. May we be brought to complete unity so that the world will know the truth of the gospel. We pray
Jn. 17:11-23 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by [c] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Jesus Prays for All Believers 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
31. Protection from the Enemy
Lord, I lift-up our need for protection. Protect and deliver us from the evil one. We pray
Jn. 17:15 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
We also pray
Matt. 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, [a] but deliver us from the evil one.
Help us be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves as we deal with the wolves around us. Show us how to test every spirit to see if they are from You. We pray
1 Jn. 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Help us recognize the enemy’s disguises and schemes so that he won’t outwit us. We pray
2 Cor. 11:14 4 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
We also pray
2 Cor 2:11 1 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
We know that Jesus has given all power over our enemy and his demons. We declare
Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Prayers adapted from the Church Prayer Leaders Network