Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #25
Our gracious and loving
Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. We come as
children coming to their loving father, because that's
the relationship we have with you. You're the one
who designed the universe and set our world in motion, but you're our Heavenly
Father and you love us with an everlasting love. You see us in all of our
imperfections and our faults and failings and even our sins and yet you still
love us. You correct us and discipline us at times because you do love us
and you want to make us and mold us more and more into your own image and
likeness. We're not what we used to be, but we're not what we're going to
be either because you're not through with us yet. This all reminds us of
who we are and also who you are. We're often unsure of what's best, and
we're uncertain of your will, so our prayer today is that you would make us and
mold us after you own sovereign and divine will.
We're so thankful for the
privilege of prayer because we have so many things in our world and in our
individual lives that we need to bring to you in prayer. Every day all
around us we see people that are lost in their sins and self-will. Oh,
sure, many of them are seemingly good, moral people but they need you.
They're not on their way to heaven, but they're on their way to separation from
God in a devil's hell. They need God and they're our responsibility as
Christians and as a church. They may never go to church and they don't
read the Bible, but they know us and they watch our lives. Help us to so
live that they see something different in us. And help us to be a witness
for godliness and righteousness. We're scattered all across our area and
you've put us here for a purpose. May our light so shine that they may be
drawn to you.
We pray for the needs of our
people today. There are many physical needs and we bring them to
you. Please, Lord, answer prayer for them and touch their bodies in
definite and positive ways. Uplift them emotionally and spiritually
because it's so easy to be discouraged and defeated when our bodies are weak
and suffering. We uplift those with deteriorating relationships, husbands
and wives that need reconciliation and forgiveness and may even this day be on
the brink of separation and divorce. Help them to have the grace and
humility to seek forgiveness and restoration. Some are struggling with
financial needs, they need a job and some need help because of crises that have
put them in dire straights. Lord, you know how to help them through these
crisis times.
We pray again today for our
president and the men and women in government all across our nation. You
said, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord," and we certainly
need a moving of the Holy Spirit all across this country that would move the
hearts of men and women toward God. Please, Lord, be active in the
affairs of this land.
We pray for and uphold the
men and women in the military as they engage in the war against Satan and all
of his evil forces; those that would destroy liberty and freedom to worship you
and would bring darkness and fear across the world. Lord, you are still
on the throne and we pray earnestly for your divine intervention. May
your will be done and your kingdom come.
We pray for Pastor Steve as
he brings the message. You have helped him in the preparation and study,
now anoint him with your divine enabling and speak to us through him.
We pray all of this with
thanksgiving in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray, "Our Father who
art in heaven . . . . ."
Paul Meeks