Prayers for the Church
God, Our Father,
The fear of you is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10), and we pray that you would give us that holy and reverential fear. May we keep your Word (Rev. 3:10), and obey your commandments (Eccl. 12:13)
Give us also the grace to love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mk. 12:30) May your Son, the Lord Jesus, be very precious to us (1 Pet. 2:7), and though we have not seen him, yet may we love him and believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible. (1 Peter 1:8)
Father, let the love of Christ control us to live, not for ourselves, but for him who for our sake died and was raised. (2 Cor. 5:14-15)
Prayers for the Lost
Father, you have promised to give the nations as a heritage to your Son (Ps. 2:8), and so we ask this morning for the nation of Algeria. Though your church there is small, we know your arm is mighty to save. So, we pray, bare your arm in the sight of Algeria. May your gospel sweep across that nation and claim every heart.
Father, you are the God over the great and the small, every continent and every molehill. No nation is too great to resist you, and no island is so small that you would forget it. We pray for the island nation of Kiribati in the Pacific and ask that you bring spiritual renewal to a once-thriving church. Cause them to run from false teaching and hold fast to your Word.
Prayers for Members
Thank you, Lord, for your protection and your care for your sheep here at Lake Wylie Baptist. We are weak, and our faith fails so often, yet your love never fails us.
I pray for those in our church who are tempted to struggle with sin; and those for whom sin remains attractive. Lord, help them to see the destructive power of sin. Give them a sip of the bitter taste of the cup of which your Son drained on the cross. May they see the folly of sin and turn instead to repentance and obedience.
Father, for those who have become captive to sin, who have given up the fight, who perhaps long to be free but no longer feel the strength—may they know that Christ has broken sin’s power as he was broken on the cross. Give them a renewed love for Christ alone which enables them to forsake sin and return to him.
Prayers for those in Authority
Lord God, we know that Christ holds the keys of history. We know that nothing can happen outside of his knowledge and your decree.
Therefore, we plead your mercy over the bloodshed in Israel and Gaza. We ask that you make a way for both justice and peace. We ask that lives be preserved so that more can hear of the saving love of Christ.
To that end, we lift up the civil authorities in Israel, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Russia, China, and all others involved. Lord God, defy the purposes of evil men. Show favor to the plans of righteous men.
And we do pray for the peace of Israel, may they soon see Christ as your Messiah, and turn to him in faith along with the nations of the world.
Prayers for Churches & Missionaries
Father, we lift up Relevant Church as Josh Hair has now become their Lead Pastor. Fill him with your Spirit. May he walk in holiness, proclaiming Christ faithfully. Give their church even greater reach and influence in our community.
We pray for FBC Clover and their pastor Mike Stafford. Thank you for their gospel witness in the town of Clover and we ask that you multiply their efforts. May you raise up more leaders and teachers and evangelists and missionaries from among their congregation.
Finally, Father, we give you thanks through our tithes and offerings. The work of your church is precious to us. May our gifts now demonstrate the gratitude in our hearts for the ministries and missions that are shaping us and forming our families into Christ-likeness. Increase our joy and our generosity even as we give.
We offer all of this in the name of Jesus Christ and for his sake. Amen