Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #19
Paul Meeks
Our gracious and loving
Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. We’re so
thankful that we have the privilege of prayer and we do reach out to you and we
know that you’re already reaching out to us. We thank you for sending
your Son into our world, and we thank you, Jesus for coming so willingly.
You’ve already been here in the world just as surely as we’re all here and you
know all about life as we know it. Sometimes when we’re going through
tough times we wonder if you know and understand. We sometimes wonder
where you are, but you HAVE already been here and walked the way before
us. Thank you for showing us the way.
We’re concerned about the
hardships and difficulties that many of our countrymen are going through as a
result of the hurricane and the devastation and loss of life. We see the
pictures and hear the reporters trying to explain what they see, and we know
that the people are all individuals that are going through the sorrow and
loss. We pray that their hearts and minds will be open to the ministry of
the Holy Spirit through thousands of men and women that are reaching out to
them in so many different ways. We know that many of them know and love
you, but many of them need to acknowledge you and become true believers.
We pray that through the tragedies men and women and boys and girls will be
turned to you. We know that life was not designed to be problem free, but
by turning to you we can make it through.
We pray for those in our
church who are passing through difficult times. They need you at this
very moment in their lives in very special ways. We don’t need to try to
hide things from you, but we can come just as we are. Look down inside
each one of us and see the things that are there in our hearts and minds.
You can do something about problems and difficulties,
and we acknowledge that often what you change is us
and our reactions and sometimes you change the situations. Anyway, you
said your grace would be sufficient. Thank you, Lord, for always being
there even when we’re not really aware of your presence.
We pray for those with
physical problems. Some have been in the hospital this past week.
Others are facing surgeries and treatments in the coming days and they need the
assurance of your divine presence. Encourage and uplift them and may your
grace be rich in their lives.
We pray for the students and
faculty and staff at the beginning of this year. These are important days
for all of them and we ask you to help them as they all work and cooperate
together to make these the best experiences possible. Help the students
as they make adjustments to school and dorm life and being away from
home. We know that although there is excitement and there are new
experiences, some are working through homesickness and new emotions. Make
these great days for all of them.
We pray for our pastors and
church leaders. May they all be sensitive to your leadership and direction. We want to be the kind of church that you
want us to be and we want to give priority to those things that are close to
your heart.
We pray for Pastor _____ as
he ministers your Word this morning. May he sense your enabling presence
as he speaks to us.
We pray in the name of
Jesus. Amen.
Paul Meeks