Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #26
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you
today in the name of Jesus, because that's how you told us to approach
you. We come with awe and wonder and reverence but we come to you
confidently because we're your children. We know that the Holy Spirit is
making intercession for us right now and that you're hearing our prayers as we
all lift our hearts and minds up to you. As we reach out to you, you're
already reaching out to us.
Thank you, Lord, for your love for us. Your Word tells
us that you love us so much that you gave your Son to come to this earth to
live and die so that we could be freed from the sin and guilt that had engulfed
us. Your love is an undying, unfathomable love that reaches to the vilest
sinners that have ever lived. And wonder of wonders, you save us and make
us your children. We don't always understand all the things that happen
to us and to our world, but we still know that you love us and care for
us. We want to be captivated by your love and we want to be overwhelmed
by your amazing grace that goes far beyond our comprehension.
I want to pray for our families this morning. Satan
has always been the enemy of the family but somehow it seems that the attacks
against the family are more insidious and blatant than ever. Seeing the
dedication of these precious little ones a few minutes ago reminds us of the
importance of the family and of the awesome responsibilities that parents and
grandparents have. We pray for all the parents of little babies and small
children to teens and even married children. We never stop being parents
and our responsibilities never end even in later life, but the influence goes
on and on, actually even into eternity. What a joy to be moms and dads and
have the satisfaction i t gives. On this
Mother's Day we thank you for all the moms here today and the godly influence
they have on their families. Bind our families together in love and may
our homes be havens of peace and love and protection where the children are
nurtured and prepared for life.
We pray for our nation today and for all the godly
influences there are that they will be multiplied and strengthened. We
pray for our president and vice-president and the men and women in our national
government and in our states and even on the local level. We're thankful
for the freedom and peace and safety we enjoy that many countries around the
world don't have. We pray for a mighty revival to sweep across our nation
and around the world that would establish righteousness and justice and the
powers of evil would be defeated.
We pray for our church and for your continual direction to
our leaders as they make decisions and plans week after week. We want to
be a church after your own heart and we want to be concerned about those things
that are of everlasting importance. While we are busy with the church
building and all of those plans, we want to keep focused on building you Church
and bringing men and women and young people and children into your Kingdom.
Thank you, Lord, for your leadership and guidance.
We pray for Pastor Steve as he preaches today. May the
words come through the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.
We want to magnify and glorify and uplift you in our services today.
We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior who taught
us to pray, Our Father who art in heaven . . . . .
Paul Meeks