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A Prayer about What to Pray For

A Prayer about What to Pray For

For the next four days, we’ll pray through Colossians. If you’d like to receive these prayers in your inbox by 6 a.m. central time, please sign up

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding… Colossians 1:9

Heavenly Father,

Today we allow your Word to give voice to our prayers for particular people:

[Try inserting your name or a person’s name in this prayer]

We pray for [name], 

May they grow in spiritual wisdom, not wisdom of the world, 

so that they may be filled with the “knowledge of [your] will,” 

not merely knowledge about Calculus, or parenting, or world history.

With this knowledge and wisdom, 

may [name] “walk in a manner worthy of you,” 

always seeking to bring you glory and honor 

and to love others well. 

May [name] “bear fruit in every good work” 

even as they continue to know you more intimately 

and learn more about your goodness (Col. 1:10).

May [name] be strengthened with your power, 

not Powerade power or strong girl power, 

but the kind and humble power 

that comes from your glorious might.

May this glorious power strengthen [name] 

to endure suffering 

and to be patient in trials, 

that they may know the deep joy of your comfort. 

May [name] give you thanks all day every day 

for your forgiveness, 

for your redemption, 

and for calling them “saints in light,” 

In Christ’s delivering name. Amen.

Read Colossians 1:9-14.

A Prayer about Praying for Pastors

A Prayer about Praying for Pastors

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30

Heavenly Father,

In a day and age when 75% of pastors report being extremely stressed, 70% of pastors say they don’t have a close friend, and 80% think they won’t  be in ministry in ten years,*

we must heed Paul’s call to pray for pastors, faithfully committing to praying for them and encouraging them.

We pray for relief from the daily stresses pastors face, 

that we can be people who come alongside to support 

without seeking to know all of the “church gossip.”

We pray we will be faithful to encourage our pastors verbally, 

with spoken and written affirmation.

We pray for appropriate rest, 

and that our church will make a way for them to take regular sabbaticals, 

We pray for the energy and space to take good care of their bodies, 

getting exercise and eating well. 

We pray for encouraging friendships with other pastors, 

for the courage and space to tell the truth about their struggles, 

And we pray for protection from temptation 

and danger and all forms of spiritual attack. 

In the name of our great Shepherd, Jesus.

Amen.

 Romans 15:30-332 Corinthians 1:10-11Ephesians 6:19-20Philippians 1:19-20

*Statistics from https://www.soulshepherding.org/pastors-under-stress/

Friends, for a helpful article on understanding your pastor’s need for pastor friends, please check out this wise encouragement by Pastor Walter Henegar at By Faith Online, “Your Pastor Needs Pastor Friends”

A Prayer Thanking God for Unanswered Prayers

A Prayer Thanking God for Unanswered Prayers

Good Father, 

I’ve been thinking a lot about prayers I prayed 

that you didn’t answer the way I wanted 

or prayers that you answered 

with those two hard words, “not yet.” 

For many of those answers, 

I am now so grateful:

Thank you for not getting me back together 

with that mean high school boyfriend,

Thank you for not letting us

get that house I wanted in my friends’ neighborhood,

Thank you for not giving me that full scholarship to college 

that seemed like a dream come true 

(because I might never have transferred to the college where I met my husband)…

[Name some “prayers answered differently” that you are thankful for].

I confess, God, there are some prayers I’ve prayed 

that are still answered “not yet” 

and prayers for which I didn’t honestly love your answer: 

The prayer that angels would protect my mother 

when she was sick with Covid.

The prayer that our children would be healthy.

[Name some “answered differently” prayers you’re not so sure about].

And yet, I cannot, I do not, doubt your love for me. 

I cannot, I do not, doubt you want the best for me. 

I do believe that you are a good Father 

who is working your best plan 

not only for my good 

but for the good of your kingdom. 

And I’m grateful to be part of that kingdom plan. 

Thank you for hearing our prayers.

In Jesus’ faithful name. Amen.

Read Matthew 6:5-15.

A Prayer about Praying for the Kingdom to Come

A Prayer about Praying for the Kingdom to Come

Heavenly Father,

Forgive us for ever mumbling this prayer by rote, 

not really thinking about what we are asking for.

The fact is, this is a radical prayer. 

It is a prayer you invite us to pray daily. 

It is a prayer for when a marriage falls apart, 

for when a global pandemic destroys our business, 

for when a house is under water after a flood. 

When we pray this prayer, 

we remember whose kingdom we’re seeking—yours. 

You are a God characterized by “holy stubbornness,” 

a “refusal to accept ruin.”* 

You are the God who repaired broken creation 

by becoming man and dying on a cross. 

Your kingdom is characterized by shalom, 

universal flourishing, “heavenly wholeness.”*

Your kingdom is the kingdom 

that opposes the kingdom of darkness. 

To pray “your kingdom come” 

is to ask Jesus to defeat the destroyer’s efforts today. 

To pray “your kingdom come” 

is to repent of our tendencies 

to create small kingdoms by placing ourselves, 

our loved ones, our work, our homes, 

or any other thing we see as ours, 

on the throne of our lives. 

Indeed, Lord, your kingdom come.

In Jesus’ coming name. Amen.

Read Matthew 6:7-15.

*Quotes from Nathan Bierma’s great book, Bringing Heaven down to Earth

A Prayer for Unspoken Prayer Requests

A Prayer for Unspoken Prayer Requests

Heavenly Father, 

Today we come to you 

on behalf of all of the people 

who have “unspoken prayer requests.” 

In our church prayer chains, 

we have no qualms about asking for prayer 

for our ailing aunt or our ongoing job search, 

but we are far more reticent 

to ask for prayer 

for our husband’s struggle with addiction, 

our daughter’s struggle with same-sex attraction, 

or our own struggle with depression. 

What’s worse, 

we don’t even know

how to pray for ourselves. 

So today, we lift up everyone 

who has a prayer request they fear to name. 

May we/they remember 

“your Father knows what you need 

even before you ask him” (Matthew 6:9). 

You are listening, you are looking, 

and when you see misery, you act (Exodus 2:23-24).

May we/they remember that your Holy Spirit 

is actively groaning with and for us (Romans 8:26). 

When we can’t put our prayer requests into words, 

the Holy Spirit joins in our groans, 

and you hear and understand. 

May we/they remember that your Son, 

our great High Priest, 

is praying for us, 

and “Therefore, he is able, 

once and forever, 

to save those who come to God through him. 

He lives forever to intercede with God 

on their behalf” (Hebrews 7:25). 

Finally, may we/they 

take heart that the church cares for us 

and bears our burdens with us, 

even the unspoken ones. 

In Jesus’ comforting name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 6:5-8; Romans 8:25-34; Hebrews 7:25; James 5:12. 

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A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

Good, Good Father,

May we grasp how precious is the gift of prayer.

Whether we are in trouble or triumph, 

we can cry out to you, with tears or with joy. 

We don’t have to come up with 

highfalutin sounding words. 

In fact, you have given us all the words 

we need to pray. 

When we can’t come up with the words, 

all we have to do is open your Word. 

If we’re feeling sad, there’s: 

“Why are you cast down, 

O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil 

within me? 

Hope in God, 

for I shall again praise him, 

My salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5). 

If we’re feeling delight, 

we shout, 

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; 

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). 

And when we’re just too numb or confused to pray, 

we have the assurance 

that the Spirit is groaning for us 

and Jesus is interceding for us (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 7:25). 

Thank you, Lord, 

for the sweet communion of prayer.

Amen. 

Read James 5:13; Psalm 42; Psalm 95. 

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