Encourage our pastoral staff when ministry gets tough. Help
them remain faithful with the things You’ve entrusted to them
(2 Cor. 4:1; 1 Cor. 4:1-3).
Teach us to respect and honor our elders/deacons.
May they
give wholehearted attention to prayer and ministry. Keep them
devoted to their families and above reproach. May they be
gentle, honest, and wise as they carry out their responsibilities
(Acts 6:4; 1 Tim. 3:1-2, 5:17; Titus 1:7).
Appoint worship leaders
who stand in awe before the splendor
of Your holiness. Use their praise to defeat the enemy. May
they be true worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth. Let
them glory only in You, Jesus (2 Chron. 20:21-22; Jn. 4:23-24;
Phil. 3:3).
May every speaker/teacher
correctly handle Your word of
truth, admonishing and teaching wisely. Let them speak with
faith that springs from relationship with You (2 Tim. 2:15;
Col. 1:28; 2 Cor. 4:13).
Let our youth workers
set examples in speech, life, love,
faith, and purity. Cause them to be strong, alive-in-the-
Word overcomers. Give them discernment to deal with
troubled youth as they teach them Your life-giving principles
(1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Jn. 2:14; Prov. 7:7,2).
Thank You for every behind-the-scenes worker
who is devoted
to service. Bless them for their obedience and generosity—
may You receive praise as a result! Reward them for serving
You humbly and wholeheartedly rather than seeking to be
noticed by others (1 Cor. 16:15-16; 2 Cor. 9:12-13; Eph. 6:7).
Increase our number through new converts. Let the gospel be
presented to the lost
among us with power, the Holy Spirit, and
deep conviction, not only through the words of the sermon,
but also through our lives. Teach us to make the most of every
opportunity as we spread everywhere the fragrance of Christ
(Acts 2:47; 1 Thess. 1:5; Col. 4:5; 2 Cor. 2:15).
May the hurting come
to know You as El Roi, the God who sees
them. Bind up the brokenhearted. Set the captives free. Replace
mourning with Your oil of gladness. Comfort them so they will
have a ministry of comfort to others (Gen. 16:13; Is. 61:1-3;
2 Cor. 1:3-4).
This next set of prayers covers more general
aspects of church
ministry. As you pray through each one, ask the Holy Spirit to
guide you to any specific areas He would have you pray about for
your own church. Take time to listen to what He may have to say,and then
intercede for those specific needs.
Holy Spirit, lead us
to level ground. Show us ways we grieve,
quench, or resist You. We live by You; help us keep in step with
You. Reign in us so we experience Your freedom (Ps. 143:10;
Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19; Acts 7:51; Gal. 5:25; 2 Cor. 3:17).
We eagerly desire the spiritual gifts
You’ve given for our
common good. Help us understand the various gifts and
how they work. May we use what we’ve received to serve
others, administering grace in love and with renewed passion
(1 Cor. 12:4-7, 14:1; 1 Pet. 4:10; 2 Tim. 1:6).
We desire to be pure and obedient so our love for each other
will be sincere and from the heart. Give us a spirit of
unity so
we glorify You with one heart and voice. Help us accept one
another in love (1 Pet. 1:22; Ro. 15:5-7; Col. 3:14).
May we sow generously into our church without reluctance
or compulsion. Make grace abound so we have the
finances
we need to do every good work You’ve assigned us. Make us
rich in ways that result in generosity so You will be praised
(2 Cor. 9:6-11).
Remind us that sharing with others is a pleasing sacrifice to You.
Keep us outwardly focused
so we don’t become self-absorbed.
Enable us to extend mercy to people in every kind of need
(Heb. 13:16; Phil. 2:4; Jude 22-23).
Help us as we struggle with sin.
Keep us from the enemy’s condemnation. Thank You for doing away with sin on
the cross so
we are no longer slaves to it. Help us throw off everything that
entangles and persevere in the race (Ro. 6:6, 8:1; Heb. 12:1).
Protect and deliver us from the evil one.
May we be as wise
as serpents and as innocent as doves as we deal with him. Show
us how to test every spirit. Help us recognize the enemy’s
schemes so he won’t outwit us (Mt. 6:13, 10:16; 1 Jn. 4:1;
2 Cor. 2:11).
Make us a house of prayer!
We want to pray first, always, and
continually with thanks. May each of us recognize that this is
Your desire for all, not just a few. Transform us into righteous
men and women whose prayers are powerful and effective
(Mk. 11:17; 1 Thess. 5:17-18; Ps. 32:6; Jas. 5:16).
Revive us so we burn
hot for You. Give us singleness of heart
and action that we may always fear You and follow Your precepts. Open our
minds to Your Word and set our hearts ablaze
within us (Rev. 3:14-16; Jer. 32:39; Ps. 111:10; Lk. 24:32,45).
—adapted from A Month of Prayers for Your Church, © Sandra Higley 2005,
Church Prayer Leaders Network:
www.prayerleader.com
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