Pastoral Prayers by Paul Meeks-- #21-30
Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #21
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. We're so thankful for this privilege of meeting together as your people to worship and honor you. We're encouraged and strengthened as we sing and pray together and as we hear the message from your Word we're challenged in our walk with you. We need to hear from you today and we need to be drawn closer to you. We're all needy people and we earnestly seek your will and your way. We want to live lives of holiness and purity and that's why we're here today. We need you, Lord, and we must feel your presence near us not only he re in church on Sunday, but out there in our everyday lives, because we're the church every day.
We're still the church in our homes and when we're doing our business, in the classroom and in the factory. We want to portray the spirit of Christ every day. Meeting together here every week gives help to make it through the days ahead.
And now, Lord, as you look down inside of each of us today we know that you see all the things that are there that no one else can see, and as we each reach out to you we know that you're already reaching out to us. We pray for forgiveness for those that have failed you. We pray for encouragement and uplift for those that are discouraged. We pray for comfort for those that are sorrowing and sad. We pray for physical healing and restoration for those with sickness and problems. Lord, we're all different but we all need the assurance of your loving presence. Thank you that you're always there and we can dep end on you.
We pray again today for our country, for our president and his cabinet and advisors. Please give them wisdom and insight that can come only from you. We pray for the men and women of the congress. Many of them are God-fearing people and they are trying to lead the country in righteousness and truth.
We pray for the communities where we live and work. Help us to be the influence for holiness and right that will make a difference. We pray, too, for our local leaders and that they will make right decisions that will direct us in the right path.
We pray for our troops around the world as they continue to
work for freedom and justice particularly in the
We ask for continued wisdom and leading for our pastoral staff and members of the various boards and committees. We know that they face important decisions that will affect the future of our church for years to come. Help each of us as we contemplate the Forward In Faith emphasis and what our involvement should be with our time and finances. We know that you are going to meet our financial needs through us, because we're the church and you work through your people.
We pray for Pastor Steve as he brings your Word in just a few minutes. May we sense your anointing upon him today.
We pray all this with thanksgiving in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.
Paul Meeks
Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #22
Pastoral prayer for Victory Sunday at close of capital campaign.
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. We rejoice in you and give thanks for all you do for us, but most of all we thank you for who and what you are. We thank you for salvation through the blood of Christ. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to our world and becoming one of us, and because of that we have the hope of eternity with you and with all those that have gone before us.
On this special day in the life of our church we're aware of
the fact that we owe a debt of gratitude for the great heritage we enjoy
because of literally thousands of people that have made up
We've just heard the challenge from Pastor Steve and really from you through him. We have much to offer in these coming months and years. We have abilities and talents that you've given us and we do offer them to you for you to use in helping to build your church right here. We have material resources that you've allowed us to have and we want to be good stewards of those. Really, all we are and all we have already belong to you because we've committed it all to you. Many in this service have already made their pledge and others will be filling out their pledge cards in a few minutes. Perhaps some will fe el led to increase their pledge. Help us all to be faithful to what you are saying to us right now. We give you thanks in advance for supplying the need for us to move onward in the plans before us.
And now we bring the needs of our people today. Some have come today with special burdens and concerns. Maybe nobody else knows, but you do and you can do something about it. Bring encouragement and uplift. Many have physical needs and they're looking to you right now. Some have spiritual needs, they've been defeated and have succumbed to temptations and they seek your forgiveness. Lord, you're the God of all grace, and our faith and our confidence are in you. As we reach out to you today, we know that you're already reaching out to us. Thank you for the help that you're giving right now.
Thank you for leading us as a church. You've put plans and programs in the hearts of our leaders and we want your continual guidance and direction. Thank you for the wisdom and understanding that you give that enables us to do far better than we could ever do in our own resources and abilities.
We pray for Pastor Steve as he preaches in a few minutes. May we all hear your voice as you speak to us through him.
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Paul Meeks
Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #23
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. You're the God of heaven and earth and you inhabit eternity, but you chose to come and dwell among us. You're not just the God that's out there, but you're God With Us. You're God within us. Your word tells us that you stand at the door and knock and when we open the door, you come in and live. We can't even begin to understand that, but we thank you for making that possible. Thank you for your abiding presence.
It's good to be together in fellowship with you and with each other in the body of believers. We're brothers and sisters and we look forward to being here week after week. We pray for the Moms and Dads and the Grandparents today. People are watching our lives day after day, little people whose lives are being shaped and molded, and our words and attitudes and actions and even our reactions are all of vital importance. There are hassles and problems and frustrations that sometimes cause us to act in ways that are less than godly, but that's life and life is real and life is earnest. We need your presence and we need the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit to help us to be what we ought to be.
We pray for our teens and young people. They face daily pressures from their peers and from society and face temptations on every hand. Help them to make right choices and to take the high road. And help us to uphold them in prayer and by words of encouragement.
We pray for our little children, many of them meeting in their own services today. We're thankful for the Christian training they receive week after week as your word is being planted in their hearts and minds. Many of them have already accepted you and we pray that they will grow up to be godly men and women.
There are many among us today with special needs in their own lives and need your special touch and reassurance right now. There are numerous physical problems and we don't understand why these things come in our lives and we're tempted to question you and our faith is tested, sometimes to the limit. We pray that their faith will not fail during these days. Some have family and relationship problems, they need special grace to see them through. Bring healing and reconciliation to them.
We pray for our nation and our leaders. What awesome responsibilities they face. Give wisdom and guidance and may they learn to depend upon you in those situations that are so critical and vital to all of us. We pray for our military, many of them in harm's way even hour by hour. We pray for peace in the very troubled spots around the globe. We pray for terrorists and those wicked men and women planning attacks. Bring their counsel and plans to nothing.
We thank you for your presence in our service today. We thank you for hearing our prayers. Our faith and our confidence are in you and you never fail.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray, Our Father who art in heaven. . . . . . .
Pastor Paul Meeks
Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #24
Introduction to the prayer:
If you had the privilege of asking one special request from the Lord today, what would it be? Well, you do have that wonderful and fantastic privilege, so, go ahead and ask him as I lead us in prayer.
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We come with gratitude and thankfulness for the manifold blessings we enjoy from your hand. The thoughts of millions of people in our nation are turned to you with thanksgiving at this season of the year. We want to focus on all that we have rather than longing for what we don't have, and we have so much more than most of the people of the world. All that we are and all that we have come from you and we owe it all to you. We remember your goodness in the past and we rejoice in your closeness right now and we know that you have the power for the n eeds of the future. How blessed we are as individuals and as a church and as a nation. We glorify and honor and worship you.
We have needs among us today. There's not a one here today that doesn't have definite and particular needs. You didn't promise us that the world would be easy and you didn't say that there would be no problems or difficult situations, but you did promise us your mercy and your grace, and you did say that you'd be with us, and you did say that your grace would be sufficient. And we've found it be so. It's really true that in the hour of temptation, you've seen us through. And in our troubles and trials, when the road seemed long, the Savior has been right there with us and you've seen us through. The Holy Spirit has been faithful, he's been nearer than breathing and closer than hands and feet. We're going to make it by your grace.
Give that special word of comfort to the bereaved, and in the days to come when they feel their loss so keenly and feel that they're all alone, help them to feel your presence and help them to find the grace to go on. We pray for the suffering and those with physical needs. Touch them physically and emotionally and uplift them spiritually. We pray for those that are struggling with family relationship difficulties that are heartbreaking and seem to be beyond hope. Lord, you know just how to minister the word of hope that they need for this day. We pray for those that are struggling with painful memories from the past, maybe molestation, maybe abuse of some kind, maybe rejection of a spouse or loved one. We pray for healing of those damaged emotions and we ask that they will find restoration.
And as each one right now lifts up their heart to you with that very special need and personal request, help us to be able to reach through the doubts and questions and trust you for the answer to that particular prayer that they are praying to you. We look to you with faith and confidence. Thank you, for hearing these prayers.
We bring the needs of our nation to you today, our president
and his cabinet and advisors, the men and women of the congress and of the
courts of our land. We remember our military all around the world and
especially in the
You are still on the throne and you have all power in heaven and on earth and we do know how everything is going to turn out, because we've read the last chapter and we know that you and righteousness and holiness will triumph.
We glorify and honor you today and we praise your holy name. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Pastor Paul Meeks
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
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
Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks # 27
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. Your Word tells us that if we ask anything in his name, we know that you hear us, and if we know that you hear us, we have the petitions we desired of you. What a comforting word that is.
I want to thank you today for your everlasting love that goes beyond all of our human comprehension or understanding. You love us all right where we are today and you love us for who we are. Our circumstances change so drastically as time passes and life is real. Problems and difficulties are not imaginary, they're real and we don't understand them and why things are happening. We're sometimes tempted to wonder if you know and we wonder where you are. Circumstances seem to defy all human logic, they just don't seem to make sense to us. How comforting it is to know that we don't have to pretend to be something we're not or prete nd to be stronger than we are. You know us anyway, so we don't have to pretend with you. You know all about our humanness and our weaknesses and, wonder of wonders, in spite of all of that, and maybe even because of it, you love us anyway. We're your creation, you made us, and you know all about us, so you know about our needs and how to help us. You can do something about it all. So, here we are, Lord, confessing our needs. You already know all about them, but we need to tell you. That's what you want us to do. Please, Lord, meet each person in just the very way we each need y ou right now. May your love for us and our faith in you hold us steady and steadfast. You said that we could be more than conquerors through him that loved us. Thank you for hearing us.
(And now, Church, before we continue and conclude our corporate prayer, I invite you, there in the solitude of your own heart and mind to talk to the Lord by yourself. We have all kinds of needs, for healing, forgiveness, encouragement, comfort, guidance. It's highly personal. Whatever it is, just tell him, he's right here, right now and he wants to answer your prayer.)
Thank you, Lord, for hearing us. There's nothing too hard for you. You're still on the throne. You're still in control. Thank you, Lord, for hearing us. You're answering our prayers right now.
And, now, Lord, we want to broaden our prayers today because we're concerned about more than just ourselves here this morning. We pray for your Church around the world. They're all our brothers and sisters and we care about them. Many are meeting in difficult circumstances, not having the freedom to meet openly because of threats they live with. Please encourage and uplift them today and help them that their faith will remain strong. May they not fail you. We pray for the wonderful ministry of the Jesus Film and for those that are ministering with that medium around the world. May th ousands more come to know you even this very week.
We pray for our president and the men and women in government and in the Supreme Court and all the courts of our land. We pray for the influence of the Holy Spirit on their hearts and minds. May they all make decisions that they don't even understand to be the result of your powerful influence.
We pray for the military actions particularly in the middle east and the precarious situations that are continuously being confronted there between righteousness and evil and freedom and bondage. We pray for your kingdom to come and your will to be done.
We pray for Pastor Steve as he brings the messages in the different venues today. Speak to all of us through him. And may your special anointing be upon him.
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Paul Meeks
Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #28
Prayer for June 4, 06
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. We are so blessed and we have so much to thank you for. You're the God of all the earth and you're great beyond our comprehension. You're greatly to be praised. Lord God, we do glorify and praise you today, not just for what you do for us, but for who and what you are. Your Word tells us that you're the God of all mankind and there is nothing too hard for you. You're able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or even think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers or desires or hopes. Wow, how great it is to be a Christian. We're a part of your eternal plan that goes back in eternity even before the world was made. You already knew about us. And just as we trusted you to save us, we need to trust you day by day for all of life's problems and perplexities and difficulties. You're always there and you're always ready to help us when we call on you. You're always with us, even when we're not aware of your presence. We give you our thanks as we acknowledge you today.
And now, Lord, we invite you to look into our hearts and minds. Your amazing grace shines into the darkest corners of our lives and reveals to us our needs but your grace also assures us that regardless of our circumstances we can be victorious through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So please help us each one individually in just the very ways we need you. You do meet our needs and you are making us into the kind of Christians you want us to be.
We pray for our church today. May your kingdom live in our hearts, may your kingdom be active in us as your people to reach out into our world. May our church be strong as endeavor to show your love to those all around us. You put this church here many years ago and you put us individually in this church. We're a part of your plan and purpose individually and collectively for this day and time and we are trying to discern and fulfill your plans for us. Help us to be sensitive to your leadership.
We pray your blessing on these graduating seniors and their families. We ask you to guide them as they plan their next steps in life. These are important days for all of them and they do need your guidance as they seek your will.
We pray for our country and for our president and vice-president and the members of the cabinet. We pray, too, for the members of the congress as they consider the important matters that come before them. We pray for the men and women in the courts of the land that they will be influenced by the Holy Spirit in the decisions and rulings they make.
We pray for the missionary force around the world as they labor to bring your word to many needy countries. We pray for those laboring in closed countries where they can't witness openly, that people's hearts and minds will be open.
We pray for Pastor Judy as she brings the message that you have given to her for us. We ask for your anointing on her heart and mind and may the words be effective and accomplish your purpose for us today.
We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Paul Meeks
Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks # 29
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. On this Father's Day we're reminded that you are the source and inspiration and the example for all fatherhood. We're your children and you're our Father, our Heavenly Father. And just as you love and care for your children, so we fathers should follow your example with our families. We know that we can never be a perfect father like you are with your children, but help us to be the best fathers that we can possibly be. There are dads here today that are the fathers of babies and little children. How important it is to nurture and uphold these l ittle people who are so totally dependent on dad and mom. There are some fathers here that have growing children and their habits of life are being developed. They need to be able to have complete trust and confidence in their moms and dads. Then, here are the teens who are already beginning to try their wings and exert their independence and although they need to be free to make many decisions, yet they need the careful guidance and direction that comes from godly parents. They need to have complete confidence and trust in mom and dad.
But we never stop being parents even after the kids have married and are establishing their own homes. We can still pray for them and offer counsel. And even during times when we wonder what kind of adults they're becoming and during times of fear and questioning the direction they're taking, it's time to trust you, Lord, and time to trust our training and time to trust our children. What joys to be moms and dads and what awesome responsibilities. So, we pray your special blessing on the fathers and grandfather here today.
We pray for those with physical problems and needs. Lord, you know and see each one and you're concerned about them all. And you know how to meet them right exactly at the point of their individual need. Please assure them of your love and concern for them, because we know you do care but they need to know. Those especially discouraged need to be uplifted and encouraged. May they be reminded of something from your Word, or maybe a verse of song, or even a word of assurance from a brother or sister in Christ.
Some have financial and material needs. They don't know where the needed resources are coming from, but they do know you and they do know how to pray. May their faith increase and we pray that their needs will be met by your provision from you hand.
We pray for those who are down spiritually, maybe they've been defeated by some word or action that wasn't right. Help them to confess their special need and receive forgiveness from you.
We pray for the many needs of people in our community. There are children and even mates that are being abused physically and sexually. There are drug addicts and drug dealers and alcoholics. There are prostitutes and those that are active in that horrible trade. There are thousands that never enter a church and never read your Word or utter your name except in cursing. Lord, our community needs you and they need us to reach out to them with your love and concern. We pray for ourselves to be the kind of Christians we should and can be and we pray for the many needs all around us.
We pray for the missionaries and national Christians as they labor and work for you, many with great opposition and even threats against them. Give them courage and make them to be effective witnesses for you.
We pray for our President and the men and women in offices of government. They need you and the influence of the Holy Spirit. May there be a revival in our nation of righteousness and truth that will defeat the powers of evil and Satan and turn men's hearts to you.
We pray for our military, many of them right now in harm's way. May they call upon you and ask for your guidance and protection.
We pray for Pastor Steve as he preaches this morning. Use him and anoint him to speak your message to us. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Paul Meeks
Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #30
Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. We want to acknowledge your divine presence with us. We don't have to ask you to come down to be among us. You're right here, right now. Closer are you than breathing and nearer than hands and feet. We're not talking into the air and we're not talking to each other, but we're talking with you. We're assured in your Word that if we ask anything according to you will, you hear us, and if we know that you hear us we have the petitions we desired of you. We don't want to ask anything outside your will and we don't want to ask just for selfish motives or simply personal desires, but we do seek your will and we determine to do your will as we understand it, both personally and individually and also as a part of the Body of Christ.
It's so good to be here together in your house this morning with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We belong together, we're a part of each other, and we look forward to this time of being in fellowship with each other and with you. And, Lord, some of my brothers and sister here this morning are carrying very heavy burdens. Some of the concerns are hidden deep in their hearts and nobody on earth knows, and sometimes they think that nobody else cares. They can't share the hurts and disappointments and betrayals with anyone, but you know all about it. You share every heartache and care. You temper and calm every tempest that bl ows, and you know all about it, you know. And so, please help each one there in the deep recesses of their own hearts and minds and emotions to reach out to you because you're already reaching out to us and you want to meet deep needs right now. We can go away from this service with renewed strength and courage to go on. This is no time to give up or to turn back, but the walk with you is always onward and upward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing our prayers right now.
We're very concerned about the condition of the world and
the volatile situation particularly in the
We pray for our President and the men and women of the cabinet. We know that they face tremendous problems continually and they need wisdom and understanding that can come only from you. We pray for the men and women of the congress as they deliberate and endeavor to lead our nation. We know that many of them are Christians and desire to be led by the Holy Spirit and we pray for all of them. We pray, too, for the men and women in the courts of land and that they might be under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
We pray for the needs of our own community. We know that there are people being abused, even little children. There are drug addicts and alcoholics and drug dealers. We need a revival right here that will change people's hearts and that will make a difference in the homes all around us.
We pray for the pastors and leaders of our church. We ask that you would put your plans and directions in our hearts and minds and help us all to be sensitive to your will.
We pray for Pastor Steve as he speaks to us this morning. We ask that he will be able to communicate the things that you have directed him to. Help us to be willing hearers and to be obedient to your voice.
We pray in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray, "Our Father who art in heaven . . . .
Paul Meeks