Dr. Terry L. Johnson – Independent Presbyterian Church, Savannah, GA

[We are hopeful that this publication of Dr. Johnson’s Leading in Public Prayer with its collection of Pastoral Prayers will have the effect of enriching the collective prayer life of Reformed and Presbyterian churches. CSB]

Table of Contents
I. Introduction: Leading in Public Prayer
II. Pastoral Prayers – 52 weeks (click week number for direct link to prayer for that week)

1 – New Year	14	27	40
2	15	28	41
3	16	29	42
4	17 – Ascension	30	43
5	18 – Pentecost	31 – Veterans	44
6	19 – Trinity	32 – Thanksgiving	45
7	20	33 – Thanksgiving	46
8	21	34	47
9	22	35	48
10 – Palm Sunday	23	36	49
11A, B & C – Easter	24	37	50
12	25	38	51A & B – Christmas
13	26	39	52 – New Year

Introduction: Leading in Public Prayer
The following collection of pastoral prayers are more or less those that I have used for the past 35 years. Typically, I have prayed from an outline. The content between the headings has been added to this document as “help and furniture” for ministers leading in prayer, as the Westminster Divines characterized the model prayers used in their 1644 Directory for the Public Worship of God.1

1 See Bard Thompson, Liturgies of the Western Church (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1961), 345-353; Westminster Confession of Faith (Glasgow: Free Presbyterian Publications, 2001), 369-394.

Plain style
The prayers themselves are unpolished. We have not aimed at literary quality or sought to give them a poetic flavor. They are straightforward, simple, unembellished, what the Puritans would have called a “plain style” of biblical prayer.

Biblical
The primary concern of Reformed Protestants dating all the way back to the Martin Bucer’s 1524 seminal work Grund und Ursach, “Ground and Reason,” has been to fill the church’s congregational prayers with biblical content.2 This priority is evident in all the Reformed liturgical work dating back to Bucer, to Calvin’s “Form of Church Prayers,” to Knox’s “Form of Prayers,” to the Puritan’s “Middleburg Liturgy,” to the Westminster Directory,3 and to Baxter’s Savoy Liturgy. This concern continued in the 19th century work of Charles Baird, Eutaxia, republished as Presbyterian Liturgies4, finally to the 20th century with the publication of Hughes Old’s Leading in Prayer.5 We have sought to continue this priority.

2 See the recently republished work of Ottomar F. Cypris, Ground and Reason: English Translation and Commentary (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017).
3 See Thompson, Liturgies of the Western Church, 185-405.
4 Baird, (1855; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1957).
5 Old, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1995).

“Full Diet”
We also have sought to promote a “full diet” (Hughes Old’s term) of prayer. The six major biblical genres should be present in the worship services of Reformed Protestantism:

– Praise	– Confession of Sin
– Thanksgiving	– Intercession
– Illumination	– Benediction

Some may choose to combine several of these genres (see below); others may wish to keep them all distinct.

“Pastoral” or “Great” Prayer
The primary prayer of the pastor in the Reformed church came to be called the “pastoral” prayer in much of the English-speaking world. Well into the 20th century it retained much of the classic content as outlined in the Westminster Directory:

• Confession of sin and pardon
• Five-fold intercessions for:
  − Sanctification of the saints
  − Church and its ministry
  − Sick
  − Civil authorities and the nation
  − Christian mission
• Illumination – prior to the reading and preaching of Scripture.

Models of this prayer, covering 52 weeks plus seasonal services, are provided in this work.

Improved Prayer Life
We are hopeful that publication of these public prayers will have the effect of enriching the collective prayer life of Reformed and Presbyterian churches. Among the weaknesses (as we see it) of today’s worship services are a dearth of prayer, missing genres, and unclear categories. Not only is there too little prayer, but much of it seems unplanned, mere stream of consciousness floundering that is as ineffective as stream of consciousness preaching. Too often congregations give up trying to follow the pastor’s prayers as he bounces from subject to subject without any evident order of thematic unity. Consequently, we are emphasizing clear categories with distinct headings, believing this will help facilitate congregational participation. The pastor, we remind ourselves, is meant to be the voice of the people as he leads the congregation in prayer.6 His prayers, we further remind ourselves, while addressed to God, are meant to edify the congregation (1 Cor 14:6-19).6

6. For more from the present author on history, theology, and practice of public prayer see Worshipping with Calvin, 108-121; Serving with Calvin, 199-229.

II. Pastoral Prayers

Pastoral Prayer #1: New Year
Prayer of Confession and Pardon
You, O Lord, are the infinite, eternal and unchanging God. Our days are like grass; as a flower in the field, so we flourish. When the wind passes over us, we are no more. (Ps 103:16)
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that this past year we squandered our time on unworthy matters. Even though our days are as handbreadths; though our lifetimes are as nothing; though every one of us is at our best a mere breath, yet we have consumed precious time through foolishness; we have wasted opportunities to serve and honor You; we have pursued the sinful and the trivial; we have neglected the enduring and eternal (Is 40:6; Ps 39:5). We have invited your judgment and condemnation.
– Pardon
Yet You, O Lord, do not change. You ever love to show mercy. Our hope of forgiveness and life is in Your goodness alone. We look to Jesus, who came into the world to save sinners; whose cross is our salvation; whose blood is our atoning sacrifice. Deliver us from our transgressions, O Lord, in Jesus’ name. Cover our sin. Pardon our guilt. Redeem and save us, even as You have promised in Your gospel. (Mal 3:6; Ps 31:8; 1 Tim 1:15)
Prayer for Sanctification
O Lord, we pray that we might spiritually profit from the time which You grant us. Teach us to number our days; make us to know our end, the extent of our days, and how transient we are; O that we might redeem the precious time that we have. Let the young serve you in their youth and the elderly bear fruit in old age (Ps 39:4; 90:4, 12; Ps 92:14; Eccl 12:1; Eph 5:16).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
With the coming of the New Year, we pray that You might renew Your church and its ministry. You are the God who makes all things new. Revive us, O Lord. Revitalize our ministry. Increase our impact in our community. Let our gospel reach into every neighborhood, every workplace, every ballpark, and every school, sanctifying believers and converting the lost. Fill our house of worship (Rev. 21:5).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Have mercy upon the weak. Allow us no greater trial than You Yourself will enable us to bear. We pray that we might not despair or lose heart when You chasten us. Use our afflictions to impart Your holiness. Through our suffering train us, and yield in us the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Heal us, O Lord, and restore our health and
wellness. (1 Cor 10:13; Heb 12:5-11)
Prayer for the Nation
Let our nation enjoy peace, harmony, and unity in the new year. Let there be a growing consensus regarding what is just, righteous, and true; and a deepening commitment to basic human rights and freedoms.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
Let the kingdom of Christ grow in the coming year throughout the world. Let unreached peoples hear of the glorious gospel of the blessed God. Let the heavy hand of oppression be lifted from the persecuted church throughout the world. O that gospel leaven might permeate the whole world!
Prayer for Illumination
O Lord as we open and meditate upon Your Word we pray that we might become like trees firmly planted by streams of water, yielding fruit and prospering in all we do; refusing to walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers; delighting in Your law, day and night (Psalm 1).

Pastoral Prayer #2
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations. Before the mountains were born, or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God (Ps 90:1).
– Confession
You are eternal, O Lord, we are temporal; You are infinite, we are finite; You are holy, we are corrupt; You are righteous, we are sinners; You are just, we are guilty; You are good, and we are evil indeed, there is no good thing in us; our sins separate us from You; a vast gulf is left which we cannot bridge by our efforts.
– Pardon
We look to the cross for mercy. We look to Your Righteous, Suffering Servant, to our Lord Jesus Christ, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Though He was despised and rejected of men, He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows; He was stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. He was pierced for our transgressions and was crushed for our iniquities. He rendered Himself a guilt offering and poured out Himself to death; He was numbered with the transgressors and bore our sins. O that we might be justified by His death. Let us be healed by His stripes. All our faith and confidence are in Christ alone. Forgive and pardon our sins. Restore us; grant us peace and reconciliation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Isa 53)
Prayer of Sanctification
We pray that Your gospel would change us. We pray that we might become what Christ is. O that we might be poor in spirit; that wemight become meek and merciful; that we might mourn our sin; that we might be pure in heart; that we might hunger and thirst after righteousness; that we might be peacemakers and have joy even in persecution (Matthew 5:3-12).
Prayer for the Church
We pray that you would purify Your church: that we might be the light of the world; that we might be as a city set upon a hill; that others might see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven; that we might keep and teach every “jot and tittle” of Your word; O that we might have a righteousness that exceeds the external and superficial righteousness of scribes and Pharisees; that we might be holy even as You are holy (Matt 5:14-20; 1 Pet 1:16).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
O Lord we remember how Jesus healed the afflicted throughout His earthly ministry. We pray that You would heal the sick, mend those whose bodies are broken, and encourage those who are downcast.
Prayer for the Nation
We pray for wise and godly leaders in our local, statewide, and national governments, in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24)
Prayer for Christian Mission
We pray that we might fulfill the cultural mandate to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over it. O that we might take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We pray that we might see all things brought into subjection to Him and all His enemies under His feet and the destruction of death, the last enemy, that You, O God might be all in all (Gen 1:28; 2 Cor 10:5; Heb 2:8;1 Cor 15:25-28).
Prayer of Illumination
As we open Your Bible, O Lord grant us wisdom and instruction from Your word; that we might understand these words of insight and be schooled in wise living, in righteousness, justice and equity (Proverbs 1:1-3).

Pastoral Prayer #3
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, You are a good and kind and just and righteous and holy God. Before You the seraphim cry out “holy, holy, holy.” Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil. You are light and in You there is no
darkness at all (Is 6:3; Hab 1:13; Jo 8:12).
– Confession
We confess our natural darkness, impurity, and unholiness. We are rebels against Your rule and defiant of your authority. We are guilty by the verdict of Your law which we have failed to keep; we are guilty by the light of nature, which we have ignored; and we are guilty according to our own consciences which bear witness against
us, and whose voice we have sought to suppress (Rom 2:15)
– Pardon
We look only to the cross for mercy; only to the blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ; only to the propitiation in His blood. Remember, O God, that He was delivered up for our transgressions and raised for our justification. Remember that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, in our place, on our behalf, as our substitute. Forgive, pardon, redeem, cleanse, and restore us to Yourself in Him. (Rom 3:29; 4:25; 5:8)
Prayer of Sanctification
Sanctify us by the power of Your gospel. Rid our hearts of murderous hate and adulterous lust; We pray that we might cut off the offending hand and pluck out the offending eye; that we might have the integrity
of those whose yes is yes and no is no. Strengthen us to love our neighbors and even our enemies. O that we might turn the other cheek, to walk the extra mile, and give the coat off of our backs. We
pray that we might be children of our Father in heaven, who sends His rain to fall and sun to shine on the just and unjust. O that we might be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Mt 5:21-34).
Prayer for the Church
We pray for the church that we might be more effective in reaching those who are seeking salvation but are still finding their way. We pray that like Jesus we might not break the bruised reed or quench the smoldering wick. Use us to teach inquirers the good and right way, and lead them in it, through Him who is the way, the truth, and the life (Mt 12:20; Acts 2:37; 1 Sam 12:23; Jn 4:6).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
O Lord You have instructed us to pray for one another that we might be healed. You have promised to hear the prayer of faith and raise up the one who is sick. O Lord rescue the afflicted, heal the sick, deliver the despondent (Jas 5:14-15).
Prayer for the Nation
We pray for our nation. Awaken, O Lord, our national conscience and cleanse our national public life. Restore a sense of propriety, dignity, modesty, and restraint (Am 5:24).
Prayer for Christian Mission
Encourage our missionaries. Bless and multiply the children of faith as the stars of the heavens and as the sand of the sea that is on the seashore. We pray that through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ that you might possess the gates of Your enemies and that through gospel proclamation all the nations of the earth might be blessed (Gen 22:17, 18).
Prayer of Illumination
O Lord we pray that Your word would be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Give us life, O Lord, according to Your word. [Teach us Your ordinances. Keep us from straying from Your precepts. Incline our hearts to perform Your statues forever.] (Psalm 119:105-112)

Pastoral Prayer #4
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
Our Father in heaven, You are our refuge and fortress; we rejoice that in Christ Jesus we dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Ps 91:1-3).
– Confession
We confess that we have broken the two greatest of Your commandments. We have not loved You with all of our heart, mind and soul; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. Rather we have been lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure. Constantly we violate these two great commands. And we know your warning, that the soul that sins shall die; that the wage of sin is death (Mt 22:37-40; 2 Tim 3:2-4; Ez 18:4; Rom 6:23).
– Pardon
We earnestly and sincerely repent; we repent in dust and ashes; we abhor our evil; mourn our guilt, and loathe our corruption and worldliness. Remember, O Lord the cross upon which Christ has loved us; He gave Himself up for us; He died as an offering and sacrifice for sin. Grant us redemption, the forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus our Lord. Look upon us in Christ Jesus. Credit us with His righteousness. Count us as holy in Him (Job 42:6; Jas 4:9; Rom 12:9; Eph 5:2; Col 1:14, 22)
Prayer for Sanctification
O Lord, sanctify Your people. We pray for integrity of heart and practice: that we’d not judge lest we be judged; not condemn the speck in the eyes of others while condoning log in our own; not be hypocrites, pretending righteousness while practicing evil; we pray that we would always do unto others as we would have them do unto us and so fulfill Your “Golden Rule” (Matthew 7:1-12).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that our house of worship might always be a house of prayer. We pray that we might be a people devoted to prayer; that our assembly might always be filled with prayer. O that it might never become a house of commerce, or a place of entertainment, or a den of robbers, where people leave as they came, unrepentant and
unchanged. O that we might be a holy house, where sinners are transformed and saints are sanctified (Lk 19:45-48).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for the afflicted. Some here today are discouraged and are crying to You from out of the depths. Father of mercies and God of all comforts, bring light to our darkness, hope to our fear, calm to our anxiety, health to our sickness, and joy to our sorrow (Psalm 130:1; 2 Corinthians 1:3,4).
Prayer for the Nation
We pray for national repentance and reformation. We grieve ourcrude, vulgar, and morally degraded culture. O Lord, purge our land of its filth. We pray for a groundswell of moral indignation which rejects our national decadence and demands change.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
Christian mission around the world faces Goliaths. We pray that we respond like David, boldly, bravely, confident in the Lord’s strength. We pray that we might not fear when the world is defiant, and when it taunts Your people. O that we might run toward our enemies as did David, and not retreat. We pray that we might slay the Goliaths of unbelief, of skepticism, of false religion, of materialism, and of sensuality and see gospel victory throughout the whole world even to the ends of the earth (1 Samuel 17).
Prayer of Illumination
Our Father grant us Your Holy Spirit that we might receive Your words and treasure up Your commandments. Open our ears to wisdom and incline our hearts to understanding, through Jesus Christ our Lord (Proverbs 2:1-2).

Pastoral Prayer #5
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, “we lift our eyes unto the hills from whence cometh our help.” You made the heavens and the earth. You neither sleep nor slumber. You are present, awake, and alert to hear our petitions. All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of You, the One with whom we have to do. (Ps 121:1-4; Heb 4:13)
– Confession
Yet we confess to You that we have sinned against You and offended You by our thoughts, words, and deeds. We confess our corrupt thoughts: our pride; our vanity; our self-righteousness; our harsh judgmentalism. We have harbored: lust; hatred; covetousness; jealousy; envy. We confess our destructive words: unwholesome; unedifying; ungracious; and critical words. We have indulged: gossip; silly talk; coarse jesting. We confess our foul deeds: We have been unkind; unloving; unhelpful; unfair; we have been self-absorbed; cruel; harsh; and carnal. (Eph 4:25-5:3)
– Pardon
Remember, O Lord, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; He came to save His people from their sin; He came to seek and to save the lost; He came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; You have loved us, and sent Your Son to be the propitiation for our sins. We look only to Christ and the cross. Receive our repentance for Jesus’ sake; forgive our sin for Jesus sake; save us from our sin. (1 Tim 1:15; Mt 1:21; Lk 19:10; Lk 5:32; 1 Jn 4:10)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that You would sanctify us; O that we might serve You with selfless and secret service and not so as to be seen by others. We pray that we might not sound the trumpet when we give, or stand on street corners when we pray; that we might not foolishly lay up treasures upon earth; or seek to serve both You and mammon; rather that we’d lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; we pray that we’d not be anxious about life, as to what we shall eat, or what we shall drink; nor for our body, as to what we shall put on. O that we might seek first Your kingdom, and hunger and thirst for its righteousness (Matthew 6:1-34).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that you would build Your church, even as Jesus promised. O’ that the gates of hell might not prevail against her. Use Your church to batter down hell’s gates and capture the devil’s strongholds in the media, in government, and in the schools and universities, and wherever he holds sway. (Matthew 16:18)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
O Lord You have given us hope that the sick may be healed through prayer of faith. You have promised us that the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Hear, then, our believing prayer for those in need of healing, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual (Jas 5:16).
Prayer for the Nation
Raise up, O Lord, leaders who will honor Your law and obey Your word. Grant them wisdom and discernment and guide them into the paths of righteousness.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for Christian mission around the world. We pray that even as You called young Samuel into Your service, that You might call our young people in to the ministry and to the mission field. We pray that even as he responded, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears,” that our youth might respond with the same submissive willingness. Raise up among us a generation of prophets, who will preach and teach your word fearlessly, who like Samuel will proclaim the whole truth, to the whole world and withhold nothing, that your salvation might be known to the ends of the earth (1 Sam 3:9).
Prayer of Illumination
O Lord as we turn now to Your word, give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth, increased learning to the wise, guidance to those who understand. O that we might learn the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of knowledge, and not imitate the fools who despise wisdom and instruction. (Prov. 1:4-7)

Pastoral Prayer #6
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, You are the Lawgiver and Judge, and You have graciously given to us Your law, the embodiment of knowledge & truth; your holy, righteous, and good law; which You have commanded us to keep and teach. (Mt 5:17-20; Rom 2:20; 7:11)
– Confession
Yet we have not obeyed Your commandments or conformed to Your will; we’ve allowed false gods into our hearts, gods of pleasure, of success, popularity, and wealth; we’ve erected idols in our hearts and bowed down and worshiped them; we’ve misused, dishonored, and blasphemed Your name; we’ve desecrated Your Sabbath, treating it like every other day of the week, pursuing our own pleasures on Your holy day; we’ve dishonored mothers and fathers and other persons in authority over us; we’ve indulged murderous anger and adulterous
lust; we’ve taken what is not ours and deprived others of what is rightfully theirs; we’ve slanted, distorted, and warped the truth to suit our advantage; we have harbored covetousness, which is itself idolatry. O Lord, your standard is high. You have warned that if we stumble at one point, we are guilty of all (Exodus 20:1ff; Is 58:13; James 2:10).
– Pardon
Cover our guilt with the blood of Christ. Blot out our iniquities, O Lord. Our only hope is Your mercy in Christ Jesus. He bore the law’s curse, having become a curse for us; though He knew no sin, He became our sin that we might receive Your righteousness in Him. Grant us redemption through the sacrificial shedding of His precious
blood, blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ (Gal 3:13; 2 Cor 5:21; 1Pet 1:18,19).
Prayer for Sanctification
O Lord we pray for our growth in grace. We pray that as we walk by the Spirit we might choose our companions and associates wisely. We pray that we might not foolishly be bound together with unbelievers; that we’d not join righteousness with lawlessness, or light with darkness, or Christ with demons, or believers with unbelievers, or the temple of God with idols. We pray that we might not compromise with the world but come out and be separate from the world and not touch what is unclean (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray, O Lord, for our ministry. We pray that we might reach the tax-gatherers and sinners as Jesus did. We pray that we might not be content with the safety of the 99, but that we might go after the one which is lost. O that we might rejoice with heaven over the one sinner who repents rather than the 99 who need no repentance (Luke 15:1-10).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We remember the sick and sorrowful and troubled. Give them hope in their afflictions. Fulfill Your promise to cause all things to work together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for our earthly rulers and all who are in civil authority, that they might govern in such a way that we might live peacefully and quietly under their authority, with all godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:2).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord, fulfill the promise of the 22nd Psalm, that all the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to You, and all the families of the nations shall worship You (Psalm 22:27).
Prayer of Illumination
As we open your word, open our hearts that we might receive Your message and accept it, not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, and let that word perform its work in us (1 Thess 2:13).

Pastoral Prayer #7
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth (Ps 8:1). We are Your weak and foolish people, who come in need of Your mercy and grace.
– Confession
We confess to You our evil thoughts, words, and deeds but also the evil that we have done, and the good that we have left undone: we have failed to trust You in all things; we’ve failed to glorify You in whatever we do; and we’ve failed to do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Rom 14:23; 1 Cor 10:31; Lk 6:31). We have sinned through ignorance as well, at times not knowing Your word or Your will; through weakness, falling to sudden unexpected temptations by which we have been overwhelmed; and deliberately with forethought and intent, planning to do evil, making provision for the flesh and its lusts (Rom 13:14).
– Pardon
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, who could stand? Yet there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared (Ps 130:3,4). We look to the Son of God who shed his blood for “whosoever believes;” You have promised that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord Jesus shall be saved. He came for the weary and heavy laden; He suffered for the helpless and hopeless. Pardon our sin; cleanse us; wash us; forgive us. (Jn 3:16; Rom 10:13; Mt 16:23; Rom 5:8-10)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray, O Lord, that it might be said of us as was said of Enoch the father of Methuselah, that we walk with God. Let it be said of us as was said of Noah, that we are righteous and blameless in ourgeneration, walking with God and doing all that you command (Gen. 5:24; 6:9; 7:5).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for the church, even those who are enemies of the church and its gospel. We pray that we might endure their slights, blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who hate us. Grant us a spirit of forbearance. Move even our enemies to be at peace with us and let our witness draw them to Christ. (Lk 6:27; Col 3:13; Prov 16:7)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray O Lord for the afflicted. Look down upon us in our weakness, brokenness, sorrow, and sickness. Raise the poor from the dust, lift the needy from the ash heap, and the sick from the bed of affliction, and make them sit with princes. Restore health, strength, and well-being (Psalm 113:5-8).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for our nation as we pray for peace on earth. We pray that you might restrain Islamic terrorists and oppressive dictators; for the establishment of religious liberty, the freedom to preach the gospel in the Middle East, China, Russia, and around the world.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord, we pray for that day to come soon when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; when the mountains shall drip sweet wine and all the hills shall flow with water and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and all flesh shall know Jesus is Lord. (Amos 9:13,14; Joel 3:18).
Prayer of Illumination
As we open your sacred word, we pray that we might respond eagerly like young Samuel, saying, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears.” Like Samuel, we pray that we might “let none of (Your) words fall to the ground” unheard and unapplied (1 Samuel 3:9, 19).

Pastoral Prayer #8
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
Your Law, O Lord is better to us than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Your words are sweet to our taste, sweeter than honey to our mouths, and Your testimonies are the joy of our hearts. (Ps 119:72,103,111)
– Confession
We confess to You, O Lord, our fixation upon this world and our social and material well-being. We have laid up treasures on earth. We have sought to serve both God and mammon. We have conformed to the world, embraced the world’s standards and embraced the world’s outlook; we have sought the world’s approval and acceptance; we have pursued its comforts and pleasures. We have been inconsistent and disloyal, befriending the world and thereby making ourselves Your enemies. (1 Cor 3:1-3; Mt 6:24; Rom 12:1ff; Jas 4:4)
– Pardon
We look to You, the God who judges righteously, and to the perfect sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth. He bore our sins in His body on the cross. By His wounds we are healed. Though we have strayed like lost sheep, we repent and return to our Lord Jesus, the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls. O that we might die to sin, its penalty and power, die to its guilt and corruption, and live to righteousness. (1 Pet 2:21-25).
Prayer for Sanctification
O that we might lay aside every spiritual encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Strengthen us that we might not grow weary and lose heart. O that we might strive against sin, resisting even at the cost of our own blood (Hebrews 12:1-4).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that like Joshua’s generation, we might be a consecrated people. O that You might dry up the rivers of unbelief that are before us as You did the River Jordan before the children of Israel. We pray that we might see walls of gospel resistance and rebellion crumble as did the walls of Jericho. O that we might see degraded and forsaken sinners like Rahab the harlot confess that Jesus is Lord and join with the people of God, join the church with all their household. We pray that all the people of the earth might know the Lord our God is mighty, that the gospel is true, and that Jesus is the Savior of the world (Joshua 3–6).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for those who may be sinking in the miry clay, whom Your billows are engulfing; whom the waters and floods are overwhelming. Grant them songs in the night. Sustain and heal those whose bodies are broken. Encourage those whose souls are cast down in despair, that they might continually hope in You and praise You. (Ps 42:7,8,11; 69:2; 77:6; Job 35:10)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for the leaders in the media, in publishing, in cinema, and in the fashion industry. Awaken their consciences, O Lord, that they might not continue to degrade our public life, incite violence and mislead and corrupt and ruin countless lives. O that there might be national repentance and a restored sense of decency, modesty, and propriety.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for Christian mission around the world. Bless those who cross borders and oceans with Your gospel. O Lord be their refuge and strength, their very present help at all times. Make the wars to cease to the end of the earth. Break the bows and shatter the spears. Burn the chariots with fire. Establish Your gospel kingdom and be exalted among the nations. Be exalted on the earth. Be with us in all our missionary endeavors, O Lord of hosts. Be our fortress, O God of Jacob (Psalm 46).
Prayer of Illumination
Let Your Holy Spirit speak to us through these sacred writings which are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Tim 3:15).

Pastoral Prayer #9
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, we come to you, the God who knows all things, from whose sight no creature is hidden, before whose eyes all things are open and laid bare (Heb 4:13).
– Confession
We confess our worldliness and carnality, our unbelief and ingratitude, our double-mindedness and divided loyalties, our compromise and cowardice. We have transgressed Your law, broken Your covenant, ignored Your will, and grieved Your Spirit. We are unworthy of the least of all Your mercies (Gen. 32:10).
– Pardon
We look to Jesus, the Bread of Life, that we might live. Forgive our many sins. Pardon our repeated offenses. Feed our souls the food that endures to eternal life. Feed us the true bread that came down from
heaven that gives life to the world. Feed us living bread that we might live forever. Satisfy our spiritual hunger; quench our spiritual thirst. Confirm Your promise that whoever believes in Jesus Christ has
eternal life; that He will never cast out those who come to Him; that of all that the Father has given Him, He will lose nothing, but He will surely raise us up on the last day. (Jn 6:1-51)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that even as we have been buried with Christ through baptism into death, that we might be raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Even as we have died to sin we pray that we might live to You, O God in Christ Jesus. We pray that we might no longer be slaves to sin, but freed; no longer letting sin rein in our mortal bodies or obeying its lust; no longer presenting ourselves to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but presenting ourselves to You, O God as those alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of
righteousness (Rom. 6:4-13).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for Your church here and around the world, that it would be content simply to be the church. We pray that it will resist the temptation to “tickle ears,” to entertain, to turn its pulpits into stages, its sanctuaries into theaters, its sermons into therapy, and its preachers into celebrities. Restore her confidence that faith comes simply by hearing the word of Christ. (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Romans 10:17)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We come to You asking, seeking, and knocking on behalf of the weary, that they might know Your rest; the anxious, that they might know Your peace; the despondent, that they might know Your joy; the sick, that they might know Your health; the broken, that they might know Your wholeness; the wayward, the confused, and the lost, that they might know the way, the truth and the life; the poor, that
they might know Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Matthew 7:7).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for Caesar, for our civil government, that it will know its limits and not claim divine status or divine prerogatives or stray from its proper sphere. We pray that we might continue to be ruled by just laws and not human whim.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray, O Lord, that we might be properly burdened for the unsaved, that we might grieve for a lost world as did the weeping Jeremiah, whose head was waters, and whose eyes a fountain of tears, who wept day and night for the slain of the daughter of his people (Jer. 9:1). Bring about that day, O Lord, when in all the earth the wise man shall not boast in his wisdom, and the mighty man shall not boast in his might, and the rich man shall not boast in his riches, but he who boasts shall boast in this, that he understands and knows You, that You are the LORD who practices lovingkindness and righteousness in the earth. For in these things You delight (Jer. 9:23, 24).
Prayer of Illumination
We pray, O Lord, that as we open your word that we might eat the Scripture whole, as did your prophets. Fill us with Your word, and let it be sweet as honey in our mouths and the joy and delight of our hearts (Eze. 3:11-13; Jer. 15:16).

Pastoral Prayer #10
Palm Sunday
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We come to you, Lord Christ, on this Palm Sunday recognizing that you are worthy of praise. You are the blessed king and we rejoice in your mighty works (Matt 21:1-11).
– Confession
We confess that we have failed to honor Your royal majesty; or obey Your royal authority; or comply with Your royal statues. We have resisted Your rule, resented Your power, rebelled against Your requirements. We confess that we are a stiff-necked and wayward people, disloyal and non-compliant.
– Pardon
We plead, O Lord, that You might not regard us as enemies. Look past our spiritual treason. Forgive us through the cross of Christ. Pardon us through the blood of Christ. Reconcile us through the death of Christ. Restore us to your favor through the mediation of Christ. Save us by the life of Christ (Rom. 5:6-11).
Prayer for Sanctification
O that we might not be like the Palm Sunday crowds, with a faith that is superficial, fickle, and temporary. We pray for a deep faith, an unwavering faith, a permanent faith, an abiding faith. O that we might be faithful even unto death (Rev. 12:11).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that the praises of Palm Sunday might resound in all the churches. O that the kingship of Christ might be honored; the Lordship of Christ recognized; the works of Christ celebrated. And in those churches where the gospel is not preached let the very bricks and stones out of which their buildings are constructed cry out that Jesus is Lord (Luke 19:35-40).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Because you are the triumphant King exercise Your authority over all the pain, sickness, and suffering of your people. Banish the sadness, conquer our afflictions, and overcome our sorrows that we might be healthy, happy, and whole.
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for our nation to recognize that Jesus is worthy to be praised: that He is the Son of God and God the Son; that He is the Savior of the world; and that only as we build upon the rock that He is can we survive the inevitable storms and winds of life (Matt. 7:24-27),
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray that all people, and all lands, all nations, and all the earth might praise you. We pray that even the seas might roar, the fields might exult, and the trees of the forest might shout for joy, celebrating not because you are coming merely into Jerusalem, but coming to judge all the world in righteousness, and the peoples in faithfulness (Pss. 47; 96; also Pss. 148-150).
Prayer of Illumination
Your word, O Lord, is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. We pray that it might now plunge deeply into our souls; that it might pierce even into our bones and marrow; evaluating, judging, and correcting the thoughts and intentions of our hearts (Heb. 4:12).

Pastoral Prayer #11A
Easter Season
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
Our Father, we have come into Your presence where we find the fullness of joy, and to Your right hand, where Jesus is now seated, and where there are pleasures forevermore (Ps 16:11).
– Confession
We confess that we are weak and foolish, fragile and vulnerable, frequently misled, easily deceived; distracted by the world and its pleasures; compromised by the flesh and its lusts; slothful when called to service, selfish when required to sacrifice, and cowardly in the face of opposition. We grieve our sin, faithlessness, ingratitude and unbelief.
– Pardon
O Lord forgive our sins. Remember Christ’s suffering: the insults and beatings; His scourging; His humiliation; His crown of thorns; the nails in His hands and feet; His cry of dereliction; His thirst; His death. Remember that atonement was secured; satisfaction was made; redemption accomplished. “It is finished,” He said. Remember the empty tomb and His conquest of sin, the devil, and death. He offered one sacrifice for sin for all time and sat down at Your right hand, O God. We look by faith only to the cross that we might be saved. O that we might be pardoned in Jesus’ name. O that we might be forgiven and restored in Jesus’ name, even as You have promised in Your gospel. (Jn 19:30; Acts 2:45; Heb 10:12)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray for victory, not only over the penalty of sin, but over sin’s controlling, enslaving power. We pray that its dominion might be broken. Even as we have been buried with Christ in baptism, let us be raised up with Him to walk in newness of life. Let our old selves be crucified with Christ that we might be no longer in bondage to sin. We pray that we might be dead to sin but alive to You, O God, in Christ Jesus. O that sin might not reign in our mortal bodies. Let us present ourselves to You, O God, as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:4-13).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
You have not only raised us up with Christ but have also seated us with Him in the heavenly places. Grant that Your church might faithfully and fruitfully preach Jesus and the resurrection as historical fact, as space-time history with which all humanity must reckon (Acts 17:18).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for our sick, that by His stripes/wounds all the afflicted might be healed. Even as You have raised us up in Christ from our spiritual death, raise up those who suffer from their beds of affliction, and restore their health and strength (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; Matt 8:17).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for our nation’s leaders, that they might recognize Him who was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection; O that they might bow before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, submitting to His authority and conforming to His laws (Rom 1:4; Rev 17, 14; 19:16).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
As You, O God, have fixed a day on which You will judge the world in righteousness through our Lord Jesus Christ, and have given assurance that it shall be so by raising Him from the dead, we pray that all people everywhere might obey the command to repent and believe and be saved (Acts 17:30, 31).
Prayer of Illumination
As you caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning; grant that we might in such a way hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of Your holyword, we might embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which You have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. (from Book of Common Prayer)

Pastoral Prayer #11B
Easter Season
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We come to you, Our Father, through our living Lord Jesus Christ, who was raised from dead, the first fruits of all who die in Him (1 Cor 15:20-23).
– Confession
We confess our sin to you. We have broken your commandments, violated your will, and fallen short of your glory. We are guilty of idolatry, lust, selfishness, pride, covetousness, and unbelief. We have lived as though your commands and promises were not true. We have lived as though there were no resurrection, no accountability, no day of reckoning, and no judgment (Rom 3:23; Rom 7:18; Jer 17:7; Acts 17:31).
– Pardon
O Lord, have compassion on us. Our trust is in our Lord Jesus Christ; He gave Himself for our sins; He was delivered up for our transgressions, and raised for our justification. Forgive the guilt of our sins. Pardon our transgressions. Take away our guilt. Cast all our sins behind your back. Tread our iniquities underfoot, and cast them into the depths of the sea. We rejoice in the empty tomb, in the announcement, “He is not here, for He has risen.” We rejoice that in Christ all shall be made to live again. (Ps 32:5; Ex 34:9; Is 38:17; Mic 7:19; Gal 1:3; Rom 4:25; Mt 28:6; 1 Cor 15:17-19,22)
Prayer for Sanctification
Even as we’ve died and been buried with Christ in baptism, raise us up in newness of life. We pray that we might be set free from sin; that sin might not reign in us; that sin might not have dominion over us. O that we might live to you, O God, and that we might be instruments of righteousness, even sanctified slaves of righteousness. (Rom. 6:1-19)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that our ministry might expand. Glorify yourself, O God we pray, by demonstrating that an ordinary church using ordinary means can grow. Use us to show that the gospel effectively spreads not by might and not by power; not by lofty speech or by plausible words of human wisdom but by demonstration of the spirit and of power. (Zech 4:6; 1 Cor 2:1-4)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Make Your face shine upon the sick and suffering. Deliver them for Your mercy’s sake. You are the God who comforts the downcast. Give them Your comfort. Grant them ease of soul while their bodies are in distress. Be mindful of their bodily frame, that they are but dust. O that they might know that You the eternal God are their refuge, and that underneath are the everlasting arms. (Ps 31:16; 2 Cor 7:6; Ps 103:14; Deut 33:27)
Prayers for the Nation
The heart of the king is like a stream of water in Your hand; you turn it and turn him wherever you wish. Turn our city leaders; turn our state leaders; turn our national leaders; turn our leaders in the media; turn our leaders in entertainment; turn all our leaders to the paths of wisdom, righteousness, and justice. (Prov 21:33)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord, we pray that we might be diligent to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them and teaching them all that You have commanded. Fulfill Your promise to be with us always in this mission, even to the end of the age. Sustain and encourage those who labor in foreign fields as well as those building churches at home and prosper their work (Mt 28:18-20).
Prayer of Illumination
We pray that Your perfect law might revive our souls; that Your sure testimony might make us wise; that Your right precepts might rejoice our hearts; that Your pure commandment might enlighten our eyes. We desire Your word more than gold, even fine gold; it is sweeter to us even than honey from the honeycomb. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, our rock and our redeemer (Ps 19:7-14).

Pastoral Prayer #11C
Easter Season
Prayer of Confession and Pardon
Our Father in heaven, we come on this of all Sundays in pursuit of the benefits of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that we are weak and foolish and needy. We confess that we, of ourselves, are dead in our trespasses, dead in our sins. We confess further that though raised from death to life in Christ, we have continued to indulge the lusts of the flesh and the desires of the mind; that we are ignorant, that our hearts are hard, our minds are futile, our motives are impure and our aims are greedy. (Eph 2:1, 3; 4:17-19).
– Pardon
But you, O Lord, are rich in mercy, great in love, lavish in grace, and surpassing in kindness. You have blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph 1:3, 7, 18, 24, 27) We look to the cross where Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us; where He made atonement for us; where He bore our sins; where He took our curse; and we pray for pardon; we pray for forgiveness and we pray for acceptance. (Eph 5:2; Dan 9:24; 1 Pet 2:24; Gal 3:13) Raise us up in the likeness of Christ’s resurrection. Raise us up from our spiritual death to life. Raise us up in newness of life. Raise us up as new creatures in Christ. Transfer us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Seat us with Christ in the heavenly places. (Eph 2:1-5; Rom 6:4; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 1:13; Eph 2:6)
Prayer for Sanctification
Grant us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we might know Christ and the immeasurable greatness of His power, the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us, and the breadth and length and height and depth of His love, that we might be filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:18-19).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for the ministry of the church; that our gospel might reach into every corner of our community, leaving no neighbor untouched. O that our house of worship might be filled to overflowing.
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Turn to us and be gracious to us in our afflictions, O Lord. Deliver us from our distress. Heal us of our diseases. Guard our souls and deliver us. Redeem us out of all our troubles.
Prayers for the Nation
We pray that the rule of the risen and ascended Christ might be extended over our land. We pray that He might be more rather than less honored; more rather than less obeyed; more rather than less served; more rather than less revered; and more rather than less loved.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
You, Lord Jesus, have commissioned Your church to be Your witness, proclaiming repentance for forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name in all the nations. You have sent the promise of Your Father, the Holy Spirit, upon us. O that we might be faithful to fulfill our commission. O that we might be clothed with power from on high, that all peoples and nations might hear and believe.
Prayer of Illumination
We treasure the words of Your mouth, O Lord, more than our necessary food. Let Your word read and preached abide in us, that we would overcome the world (Job 23:12; 1 Jn 4:12).

Pastoral Prayer #12
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
Give ear to our words, O Lord, consider our meditations. Listen to the sound of our cry [our King and our God], as we order our prayers to You this morning (Ps 5:1-3).
– Confession
You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You. You hate all who do iniquity; You destroy all who speak falsehood; You abhor all who practice bloodshed and deceit. You hate haughty eyes, the lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, hearts that devise wicked plans, feet that rapidly run to evil, false witnesses who utter lies, and those who spread strife. (Ps 5:4-7; Prov 6:16-19) We are implicated in all the evils that You denounce all the wickedness which You despise, and all the corruption that You are pledged to destroy.
– Pardon
We approach Your throne of grace seeking pardon through Your chosen High Priest, the Mediator of a new covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ. He entered the heavenly tabernacle on our behalf; He offered not the blood of bulls and goats, but His own blood; He entered the holy place once for all; He obtained eternal redemption; He offered Himself as a sacrifice without blemish on behalf of sinners, and bore the sins of many. We look only to the shedding of His blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and reconciliation with You O God (Heb 9:11,12, 22).
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray for growth in grace; that we would walk in a manner worthy of our calling: with humility and gentleness and patience. We pray for the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ. O that we would no longer be as children tossed here and there by every wind of doctrine; rather that we would grow morally strong and doctrinally stable, speaking the truth in love, growing in knowledge and being built up in love (Eph. 4:1-16).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that the church would fulfill Jesus’ prayer that it be one even as You are one. We pray that we might not divide by generations, or age, or race, or social status, or class, or wealth, or education, or according to style or taste. O that we might be a community in which there is neither Greek nor Jew, slave nor free, male nor female. Unify us in one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and in one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (John 17:22; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 4:4-6)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
O Lord remember those who have come here today and are anxious with fear, who are troubled with the circumstances of life, who are sinking in the mire, who are floundering in the deep waters, over whom the flood of despair is sweeping: calm, soothe, strengthen, and heal Your afflicted and struggling people (Psalm 69:14, 15).
Prayers for the Nation
O that we might abandon our idols and lusts. Turn us from our corrupt ways, O Lord, and bring about national repentance and reform.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for Christian mission. We pray that we might be bold to go, as was Jonah, to the great cities of the world, to go to the Ninevahs of our day, and warn of the judgment to come. O that many might go and see the kind of success that Jonah saw, with whole cities turning from their evil ways, and whole peoples from the greatest to the least, fasting and crying out to You, O God. Bless those who have gone already and raise up a host of missionaries and ministers who will go and proclaim nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (Jonah 3; 1 Cor 2:2)
Prayer of Illumination
We confess, O Lord, that we are foolish and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; show us the things concerning Yourself found in all the Scriptures. O that our eyes might be opened and that our hearts might burn within us as the Scriptures are read and explained (Luke 24:13-35).

Pastoral Prayer #13
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, You are our refuge & strength, our very present help in trouble (Ps 46:1).
– Confession
We come to confess to you that we have not known You as we ought; we have not loved You as we ought; we have not pleased You as we ought; we have not sought You as we ought; we have not served You as we ought; we have not honored You as we ought. We have not obeyed Your commands or conformed to Your will; we all have sinned and fallen short of Your glory: even while You have warned that the wage of sin is death. (Ro 3:23; 6:23)
– Pardon
Remember, O Lord, that Jesus died once for all, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to Yourself; He bore our sins in His body on the cross; He gave His life a ransom for many. (1 Pet 2:24; 3:18; Mk 10:43) Forgive our sins, pardon our offenses, cleanse our guilt through Jesus Christ our Lord. We rejoice in Your gospel promise
that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom 8:1)
Prayer for Sanctification
Because You are the God who is love itself, we pray that we would love as You do. We pray that we would be patient and kind and not jealous, boastful, arrogant, or rude. We pray for a love that does not seek its own and is not irritable or resentful; that does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. We pray for a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; a love that never fails (1 Cor 13:4-7).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for the unity and harmony of the church. O that we would bear with one another, and forgive whatever complaints we have against one another; and put on love, the perfect bond of unity; we pray that the peace of Christ might rule in our hearts; and that the word of Christ might richly dwell within and among us. We pray that all we do would be in the name of our Lord Jesus and with thanks through Him to You O God our Father (Col 3:13-17).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
O Lord we pray for the needy: for those who hunger, that they might feed upon the bread of life; for those who thirst, that they might partake of the living water; for those who are weary and heavy laden, that they might find rest for their souls in Christ; for those who are ill, that by His stripes they might be healed; for those who are anxious and fearful, that they might find refuge in the shadow of the Almighty (John 6:35; John 4:10; Matthew 11:28; Psalm 91:1)
Prayers for the Nation
O Lord we are grateful for our system of government and pray that You would preserve liberty without license, the rule of law without tyranny, prosperity without indulgence. Where we have burst the bonds of decency, propriety, and moderation, restore our capacity for discipline and restraint. In wrath remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
Bless and prosper the work of missionaries and ministers around the world. Bring about that promised day, O Lord, when “the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills, and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways, and that we may walk in His paths.’” (Isaiah 2:1-3a; cf. Micah 4:1-3)
Prayer of Illumination
As we turn to the law and to the testimony, we pray that we might speak only according to Your word. Grant us understanding that in the darkness of our world the light of Christ might shine upon us (Is. 8:20-9:7).

Pastoral Prayer #14
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord You have given to us Your precious word, which is more desirable than gold, even much fine gold, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. Your word restores our souls, makes wise the simple, rejoices our hearts, enlightens our eyes. (Ps 19:7-10)
– Confession
Yet we have strayed far from You. We have forsaken you, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for ourselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jer 2:13) We acknowledge our iniquities, our transgressions, our disobedience and faithlessness. We confess our moral and spiritual treachery; repeatedly we have turned from You and failed to follow You. We have corrupted our way and forgotten You. (Jer. 3:13,14,19-21)
– Pardon
Yet You are good and always ready to forgive. You are rich in mercy to all who call upon You. Look upon us in mercy in Christ Jesus; pardon our sins; heal our faithlessness. Break up our fallow ground, circumcise our hearts, and restore us to Yourself. (Ps 86:5,15; Jer 3:11-13; 4:3,4,14)
Prayer for Sanctification
Rid our hearts of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. We pray that like newborn babes, we might long for the pure milk of the word, that by it we might grow in respect to salvation. Let us taste Your kindness, O Lord. (1 Pet 1:22; 2:1-3)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that our congregation would conduct itself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; that we might stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. We pray that we might always be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose; doing nothing from selfishness or empty conceit but with humility of mind regarding others as more important than ourselves; looking not merely to our interests but also to the interests of others. O that we might have the attitude that was in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:27-2:5).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for the needy. O Lord rescue the perishing, revive those overcome with exhaustion, strengthen those whose world is collapsing, and heal the sick. Show once more that there is a balm in Gilead (Jer. 8:22).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for our nation. Grant, O Lord, national revival and reformation. Grant our leaders wisdom and courage. Give us victory over our enemies, and harmony with our friends.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for Christian witness throughout the earth. We pray that Your people would be as the light of the world, as a city set upon a hill, as the salt of the earth. O that multitudes around the globe might hear our witness and see our love and good works, and so glorify You our Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:13-16)
Prayer of Illumination
We affirm, O Lord, that Your thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are Your ways our ways. Even as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than our ways, and Your thoughts than our thoughts. Yet you have given us Your word. We pray that it might not return to You void, but that your Holy Spirit might so open our hearts that it might accomplish that which You purpose and succeed in the thing for which You sent it. (Isa. 55:8-13).

Pastoral Prayer #15
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, You are our shepherd, the Good Shepherd. You make us to lie down in green pastures; You lead us beside still waters; You lead us in the paths for righteousness. (Jo 10:14; Ps 23:1-3)
– Confession
Yet we confess that we have departed from Your way, strayed from Your path, and wandered from Your truth. We have preferred the broad path that that leads to destruction, and the many who walk upon it; we have avoided the narrow path that leads to life, and the few to be found upon it. We are like sheep that have gone astray, each of us has foolishly turned to his own way. (Mt 7:14; Is 53:6)
– Pardon
Yet You have caused the iniquity of us all to be laid upon our Lord Christ, even Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Is 53:6; Jo 1:29). We look only to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, the way, the truth, and the life, the resurrection and the life, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, though He
despised the shame. Forgive us; pardon us; cleanse us of all our guilt; correct us; free us. (Jo 14:6; 11:35; Heb 12:2)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray, O Lord, that You might grant us a vision of heaven. Let us live with eternity in view. Take us to the top of Mt. Pisgah, where we might see the promised land. We pray that like Moses, we might finish our course well, that our eyes might not dim, nor our vigor abate. O that we might serve You faithfully to the end. And when we depart this world, we pray that there might be a faithful Joshua, filled with the spirit of wisdom, to continue the work that You have accomplished through us.
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for harmony in our church life together: that we would do all things without grumbling and disputing; that we might prove to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. O that we might appear as lights in the world as we hold fast the word of life (Phil 2:14-16).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray, O Lord, for the sick, for the suffering, for the discouraged, for the anxious. Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, heal, restore, and comfort those who are afflicted [with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted by You. O Lord. We rely not on ourselves, but on Your power to heal, You who are able even to raise the dead]. Deliver us from all distress and peril, O Lord.
Prayers for the Nation
O that we might practice the righteousness that exalts a nation and flee the sin that is a disgrace to any people (Pro 14:34).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord the multitudes are distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd; the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. O Lord of the harvest, send out workers into the fields (Matthew 9:36-38); bless the work of those who have crossed borders and oceans to minister Your gospel; raise up scores of missionaries and ministers to serve at home and abroad. [Pour out Your Spirit upon all flesh and manifest Your gospel as Your power unto salvation (Matt 9:26-28; Acts 2:17; Romans 1:16)].
Prayer of Illumination
Give us Your Holy Spirit to instruct us. Grant us Your heavenly manna for our hunger and Your living water for our thirst. Send the pillar of cloud to lead us by day, and a pillar of fire to guide us by night, that we might know the way by which we should go.

Pastoral Prayer #16
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
Almighty God, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; You are our dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deut 33:27)
– Confession
We confess that we were born in sin and have continued in sin; we have broken Your law; we have ignored Your will; we have neglected to hear Your voice; we have refused to heed Your warnings; we have failed to follow Your directions, to live in Your light – or to obey Your commands.
– Pardon
We come to You, Lord Jesus, weary and heavy-laden with sin. Grant us Your rest. Grant us your pardon for sin. Place upon us Your easy yoke. Place upon us Your light burden and teach us. We pray that we might learn of You and find rest for our souls. Grant us peace like a river and righteousness like the waves of the sea. Wipe out our
transgressions like a thick cloud and our sins like a heavy mist. Bare Your holy arm that we might see the power of Your salvation, O God (Is 48:18; 44:22; 52:10; Matt 11:28-30).
Prayer for Sanctification
Cleanse us from both our open and obvious as well as our hidden and secret faults. Keep us from presumptuous sins. Free us from controlling sins. Search us, O God and know our hearts; try us and know our thoughts. Show us if there is any wickedness in us. Sanctify us and lead us in the everlasting way. (Psalm 19:12, 13; Psalm
139:23, 24)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for our ministry, that we might be a people devoted to prayer. Open for us a door for the word. Enable us to speak clearly of the Gospel of Christ. We pray as well that we would conduct ourselves wisely towards unbelievers, making the most of our opportunities to speak of Your gospel. Let our speech always be seasoned with grace, responding as we ought to each person (Col 4:2-4).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
O Lord, You have encouraged us to remember that Elijah was a man with a nature like ours (“a man subject to like passions” [KJV]), and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain for 3-1/2 years, and he prayed again and the rain poured. We ask that our prayers might accomplish much, as his did; we plead that they might be effective, as his were. O that You might hear our prayers and heal our sick and relieve those who are suffering and forgive the disobedient (Jas 5:17-18).
Prayers for the Nation
Preserve in our nation, O Lord, the principles that have protected us from tyranny all through the centuries: the rule of law, limited government, separation of powers, our system of checks and balances, the freedoms of religion, assembly, speech, the press, and the right to bear arms. Preserve our national prosperity and establish virtue, piety, and justice throughout our land.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
Let us not fail to heed Your call to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Let us not flee from the task of crossing borders, as did Jonah. Let not fear of the unbelieving, or contempt for the heathen, or hatred of pagans mar our judgment and cause us to flee from fulfilling the Great Commission. O that we might be bold to take Your gospel into our neighborhoods, to our nation, and throughout the whole world. (Jonah 1:1-3; Mt 28:18ff)
Prayer of Illumination
We pray that we might ever honor Your word; [that our ears might be open; that we might pay attention to Your words and embrace Your law]. Lead us, O Lord, into the ancient paths, gospel paths, where the good way is, that we might walk in it, and find rest for our souls (Jeremiah 6:16).

Pastoral Prayer #17
Ascension
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We come to You, O God, through the mediation of the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ, seated now at the right hand, having all power and authority, having that name that is above every name, and interceding on our behalf. (Ps 110:1; Mt 28:18; Phil 2:9; Rom 8:34)
– Confession
We confess, Lord Christ, the weakness of our faith. Though highly exalted, we have not trusted Your promises, believed Your warnings, followed Your instructions, or obeyed Your commandments. We confess that we are foolish and slow of heart to believe all that You have spoken. We have entertained corrupt thoughts, spoken evil and hurtful words, and engaged in harmful deeds.
– Pardon
We look with faith only to Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Let our faith be counted as righteousness. Let us be justified by His blood. Save us from wrath
to come. Grant us reconciliation, and save us by His life. O that we might enjoy the free gift of Your grace, even righteousness and eternal life. (Rom 4:22-5:21).
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that the ascended Christ may rule over us. O that our lusts might be crucified, our idols mortified, and our passions sanctified. We pray that we might clearly see the futility of the world’s counterfeits and the emptiness of the world’s promises.
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We thank You, O Lord, that You have prepared a great banquet, an eternal feast for Your people. We pray that we might not only accept Your invitation, but that we might go into the streets and lanes and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame. We pray that we faithfully might go onto the highways and along the hedges and
compel all to come in, that Your house, O Lord, may be filled. O that the masses of humanity might enjoy Your feast. O that a multitude that no one can number come and partake of the fullness of Your house and drink from the river of Your delights (Luke 14:16-24; Ps 36:8).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for those to whom You have given the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, that You might bind up their brokenness and heal their wounds. Grant them a song in the night and gladness of heart, through Jesus Christ our Lord. [O that repentance and rest might be our salvation; and quietness and trust our strength.] (Isaiah 30:20, 26, 15)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray that the Lordship of Christ over our nation might be recognized. Let our nation submit to the rule of Christ and yield to the will of Christ.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray that the nations of the world might respond to the call of Christ, receive the gospel of Christ, and submit to the Lordship of Christ. O that the world might see the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55).
Prayer of Illumination
As we open the sacred Scriptures, let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, teaching and admonishing us with all wisdom, that whatever we do, whether word or deed, might be done in the name of our Lord Jesus. (Col 3:16-17)

Pastoral Prayer #18
Pentecost Sunday
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We give thanks, O Lord, that You have given to us another Helper, a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to teach us all things, to lead us into all truth, to clothe us with power from on high, and to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (Jn 14:16-26; 16:13; Lk 24:47-49; Jn 16:7-11)
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that we have suppressed the Spirit’s work. We have refused to be led by Your Spirit, or walk by Your Spirit, or be filled with Your Spirit. We have neglected the gifts of the Spirit and failed to bear the fruit of Your Spirit. We have resisted the Spirit, quenched the Spirit, and grieved Your Spirit, O God. (Rom 8:14,4;
Gal 5:18; Eph 5:18; 1 Cor 12:1ff; Gal 5:22,23; Acts 7:51; 1 Thess 5:19; Eph 4:30)
– Pardon
We repent of our sin. We repent of our self-righteousness. We flee from the judgment that is to come. O that we truly might be born of the Spirit. Pardon our sin and transform us by the power of Your Holy Spirit into the image of Christ. (Jn 16:7-11; Jn 3:5-8)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray, O Lord, as those born of the Spirit that we might be filled with the Spirit, and walk by the Spirit and be led by the Spirit and set our minds on the things of the Spirit. We pray that by the Spirit we might mortify the deeds of the flesh. O that we might pray by the Spirit and worship by the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit. Grant us spiritual wisdom as taught by the Spirit even if it be folly according to the world. O that we might serve according to the newness of the Spirit, and not the oldness of the letter. (Eph 5:18; Rom 8:4, 5, 14; Gal 5:16, 18, 22, 23; 1 Cor 2:6, 7, 10, 13; Eph 1:17,18; 2 Cor 3:6,18)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for the church that we might be a spiritual temple, that we might be the dwelling place of God in which spiritual sacrifices are offered, spiritual worship is performed. We pray also that as the Spirit empowered the apostles in their ministry that He might empower us that we might “speak the word of God with boldness” (1 Pet 2:4, 5; 1 Cor 3:16, 17; Acts 4:31).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Even as the Spirit of the Lord anointed Jesus to proclaim liberty to the sick, the maimed, and the oppressed, we pray that He might liberate all of our afflicted people from the illnesses that distress them (Luke 4:18).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for a great Pentecost-like outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our nation. O that we might see a great spiritual awakening. Let the unraveling of civil norms, the collapse of moral restraint, the incompetence of government actions, and the futility of all human attempts to restore order and standards lead to national despair; despair that turns the eyes of the nation to God for answers. O that there might be national repentance and crying out to you O God.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray that as the Spirit led the apostles in their mission, grant us a “Macedonian Vision” of where to devote our time, energy, and wealth, that we might do the most good with the resources entrusted to us (Acts 16:6-10).
Prayer of Illumination
As we open Your word, grant us the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might grasp the fullness of what is ours in Christ (Eph. 1:17-19).

Pastoral Prayer #19
Trinity Sunday
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We come to You O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that we might receive mercy and grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16).
– Confession
We have sinned against You, O God, our Father and Creator, though you have given us life and breath, and all things, and have the right of the potter over the clay. We have sinned against You our Redeemer, Lord Jesus, Son of God, though you have purchased us at the price of Your own blood; we have sinned against Your love and mercy, and against Your Lordship over us; and we have sinned against You, Holy Spirit, who have transformed our hearts and who indwells us; we have resisted Your illumination, empowering, and leading. We have sinned against You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, though You have made us, redeemed us, and sanctify us.
– Pardon
Save us, O God our Father. We rejoice that You so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son. Save us Lord Jesus, Son of God, and save all who believe in You and the efficacy of Your blood sacrifice on the cross. Save us, O Holy Spirit, open our eyes and ears to Your gospel, and open our hearts that we might believe and might not perish but have everlasting life. Grant us forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life (John 3:16).
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that the saving grace of our Lord Jesus might transform our souls; that the love of the Father might be shed abroad in our hearts; and that the fullness of fellowship with the Holy Spirit might be enjoyed. O that we might more and more reflect Your loving, gracious, and holy image. (Rom 5:5, 2 Cor 13:14; Eph 5:1, 2).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that we might faithfully declare to a lost world that there is but one God, one true and living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We pray that we might faithfully proclaim three persons of the Godhead, that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are each God, sharing the same substance, and equal in power and glory.
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray, our God and Father, that You might heal those whom You have created; we pray, O Son of God, that You might heal those whom You have redeemed; we pray, O Spirit of God, that You might heal those whom You fill and empower. Restore the health and strength of Your afflicted people.
Prayers for the Nation
In this land where so many colleges and universities, town and cities bear the name “Trinity;” where even forests and railways are named Trinity; where prior generations sought thereby to honor the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; we pray that You, the triune God might be honored, praised, and worshipped throughout our land.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray that multitudes of Your disciples might go with Your gospel to the ends of the earth, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching new disciples to observe all that You command, in the confidence that You, the triune God are with us always, even to the end of the age (Mt 28:18-20)
Prayer of Illumination
As we open your word O God, we pray that we might see Christ in all the Scriptures, by the illumination of the Holy Spirit (Lk 24:27; Jun 16:13).

Pastoral Prayer #20
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We come to You now, our Lord, hiding Your word in our hearts that we might not sin against You; grateful that Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Ps 119:11,105)
– Confession
Yet we have not always believed Your word; or trusted Your promises; or relied upon Your wisdom; or submitted to Your authority. We have preferred the false promises of the world and believed the counterfeit wisdom of man. We have embraced false hopes, pursued vanity and wasted our time and treasure striving after the wind (Ecc 1:14; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4; 7:9).
– Pardon
We look to You, Lord Jesus, for deliverance, for You are the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. You laid down Your life and took it up again. Save us from our sin. Forgive us. Pardon us. Deliver us from destruction. Call us by name and lead us to abundant and everlasting life. Hold us in Your hand, and in the Father’s hand, from which no one shall be able to snatch us away. (Jn 10:1-42)
Prayer for Sanctification
O that we might not be naïve, like the youth of whom the Bible warns us who lacks sense, who flirts with evil, who walks in darkened streets where sin lurks, who is enticed by its pleasures and vulnerable to its flatteries; who is persuaded to indulge, and follow as an ox to the slaughter, at the cost of his soul. O that we might avoid the seductions of the flesh, that we might listen to You, and pay attention to the words of Your mouth, and not let our hearts turn aside to the ways of evil or stray into its paths, and join the many who are its victims, who have descended to the chambers of death (Prov 7:6-27).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray, O Lord that we might preach Your gospel faithfully not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. We pray that Your word, O Lord. might sound forth from this place, that many might turn from idols to serve You, the living and true God; O that multitudes might come to faith in Jesus, and be delivered from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:5-10)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray, O Lord, for the afflicted. We thank You that Christ Jesus joins with us in our suffering; that in all our afflictions He is afflicted; that He stands with us in the fiery furnace; that He daily bears our burdens. Heal us; strengthen us; restore us. (Is 63:9 Dan 3:25; Ps 55:22; Ps 68:19)
Prayers for the Nation
O Lord, we grieve that our land is immersed in idolatry, immorality, and injustice. Our countrymen have made gods of material things, sensual pleasure, and entertainment. Deliver us, O Lord, from our national idols. Restore truth, righteousness, justice, beauty, and decency in this favored land.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O that the law might go forth from Zion and the gospel word of our Lord Jesus from Jerusalem. Hasten that day when nations shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; when nations shall not lift up swords against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O that all nations might walk in the light of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (Isaiah 2:3b-5, cf. Mic 4:1-3).
Prayer of Illumination
As we prepare to read and preach the Scriptures, O Lord, let Your word be like fire, and like a hammer that shatters a rock. Let Your gospel be Your power for our salvation (Jer 23:29; Rom 1:16).

Pastoral Prayer #21
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Your right hand is full of righteousness. The heavens declare Your righteousness (Pss 89:14; 45:7; 48:10; 50:6).
– Confession
We your poor servants confess our defects in character, our failures in conduct, our lapses in judgment, our reckless self-indulgence. We confess our lax discipleship, our loveless indifference, our cold devotion. We have fed our lusts and pampered our idols. We are unworthy of Your love and unequal to our tasks.
– Pardon
Remember O Lord, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Remember, O Lord, that the cup of wrath did not pass from Jesus, but that He drained it, drinking it down to its dregs. We look only to our Advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous. He offered Himself a propitiatory sacrifice, satisfying Your justice and turning away Your wrath on our behalf. He died that He might deliver us from the wrath that is to come upon the world for its unrighteousness. Spare us. Forgive us, O Lord. Save us, O Lord, in Jesus’ name and for His sake. (Mt 26:36-46; Ps 75:8; 1 Jn 2:1,2; 1 Thess 1:10)
Prayer for Sanctification
O Lord, there is much in this world that discourages us. Despondency stalks us. Fear and anxiety pursue us. We pray that You, the God of hope, would fill us with all joy and peace in believing. We pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit we might abound in hope (Rom 15:13). O that hope might be the anchor of our souls amidst the waves of conflict and temptation (Rom 15:13; Heb 6:19).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
You have entrusted the treasure of Your gospel to mere “earthen vessels,” to “jars of clay.” We pray that our weakness as a church might show that the surpassing power of the gospel belongs to You, O God, and not to us. Let the life of Jesus be manifested in us. We pray that through our labors Your grace might spread to more and more people, all to your glory (2 Cor 4:7-12).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We remember how the afflicted were brought to Jesus on their beds, in the villages, cities, and countryside, how they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored Him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. O that He might extend His touch and that our sick and suffering brethren might be healed (Mk 6:53-56)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray that we might not return to the days of the judges, when generations arose who knew not the Lord, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Establish righteousness, justice, industry, frugality, decency, and truth. Guide our leaders that they might make wise decisions (Judges 2:9; 17:6; 21:25).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord, may Your name be praised, from this time forth and forever. Prosper the work of world evangelization. From the rising of the sun to its setting, from one end of the earth to the other, may Your name be praised that all might know that You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are high above all nations, and Your glory is above the heavens (Psalm 113).
Prayer of Illumination
As we open Your word, we pray that neither Satan’s deceptions, nor the world’s persecution, nor the cares of life, the deceitfulness of riches, nor the desires for other things would prevent Your word from taking root in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit and bearing fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundred-fold (Mark 4:15-20).

Pastoral Prayer #22
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
By faith we come [to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and in heaven,] to You our God, the Judge of all, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood. (Heb 12:22-24)
– Confession
O Lord we confess our corruption and guilt. Repeatedly we have chosen the finite over the infinite; the temporal over the eternal; the material over the spiritual; the seen over the unseen; the visible over the invisible; the world over the church; the human over the divine. We have indulged our flesh and scorned Jesus’ call to self-denial and mortification; to sacrifice and cross-bearing. (Mt 16:24; Rom 8:13; Gal 5:24) O Lord You have warned that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; of the wrath that is to come; of the place of torment; where the damned beg for even a drop of water to relieve their anguish. (Heb 10:31; Rom 1:8, 2:5; Lk 16:19ff)
– Pardon
We pray that you will pardon our sin. We fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross though He despised its shame, conquered sin and death, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. O that our hearts might be sprinkled clean and our hands washed with pure gospel water. Through His blood sacrifice grant us forgiveness of sin, and reconciliation with You, Our Maker and Judge. (Heb 12:1,2)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that we might grow in grace; that we might be Your faithful imitators O God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us. We pray that immorality, and impurity, and greed might not be named among us; nor filthiness and silly talk, nor coarse jesting, nor anything else that is not proper or fitting. O that we might walk as children of light, in goodness, righteousness, and truth, doing what is pleasing to You and exposing the unfruitful deeds of darkness. (Eph 5:1-14)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
Protect Your church by Your power; direct our congregation by Your wisdom; provide for Your bride by Your goodness; strengthen Your body by Your word; enrich Your people by Your grace; and comfort Your flock by Your Spirit.
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We remember, O Lord, the pleas of Hezekiah, how he wept bitterly that he might not die, but that he might recover from his sickness and be healed. You heard his prayer and saw his tears and added health and years to his life. O that You might heal our sick and restore health and wholeness to our afflicted ones. (Is 38:1-8)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray, O Lord, for those who exercise authority in the civil government. We pray they might do so in such a way that we might lead peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity, and that we might be free to preach the gospel of our Mediator Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all that all might be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:1-4).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray, O God our Savior, that all humanity should be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. O that the world might know You, the one true God, and the one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:3-6)
Prayer of Illumination
We pray that we would be attentive to Your instruction and hold fast Your words, keep Your commandments, and live. O that we might get wisdom, get insight, and not forget, and not turn away from the words of Your mouth or forsake Your teaching (Prov 4:1-5).

Pastoral Prayer #23
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
Our Father in heaven, we come to you now by faith, confident of things hoped for, convinced of things not seen, and believing that You are a rewarder of those who seek You. (Heb12:1,6)
– Confession
We come to you to confess our sins, each of us in our various stations and capacities. As husbands we confess that we’ve not loved our wives as Christ loves the church; repeatedly we’ve not nourished and cherished them, not lived with them in an understanding way, not honored them as fellow heirs of the grace of life; and we have failed to provide leadership in our homes. (Eph 5:22ff; 1 Pet 2:7) As wives we confess we repeatedly have not been subject to our husbands as the church is to Christ, nor have we loved and respected them, but rather have been contentious and manipulative, undermining and usurping their authority. (Eph 5:22ff) As children we repeatedly have failed to honor our parents and obey them, but rather have chafed under their rule, resisting and rebelling against their authority. (Eph 6:1,2) As parents we’ve grown lax and permissive. We repeatedly have failed to love our children or discipline them, exasperating instead of rearing them in Your nurture and admonition. (Eph 6:1,2; Col 3:21) As singles, too often we=ve squandered our freedom from the obligation to please a spouse and failed to make our chief concern the things of the Lord and how we may please You; we have failed to serve You with undistracted devotion. (1 Cor 7:32-35)
– Pardon
Your kindness, O God our Savior, and Your love for humanity have appeared in Christ Jesus. He gave Himself for us. Redeem us, O Lord, from every lawless deed. Save us, not on the basis of deeds we have done in righteousness, but according to Your mercy. Purify us by the washing of regeneration. Rescue us by the renewing by the Holy Spirit. Pour out Your Spirit upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Justify us through Your grace. Count us as heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7).
Prayer for Sanctification
Grant us your strength to do what we ought, to bear what we must, to suffer what You will, and to remain faithful to the end. O that we might work for you, wait upon You, exalt You, and walk with You. Supply all of our needs according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
Preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We pray that we might all agree, that there be no division among us, that we might be made complete in the same mind and the same judgment. Perfect us in unity that the world might know that You the Father sent the Son. (Eph 4:3; 1 Cor 1:10; Jn 17:23)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We bring to You by faith our sick, praying that You will demonstrate Your same concern for them as You did for the needy throughout Jesus’ earthly sojourn. Heal again all manner of disease and bodily weakness. Exercise today the same power over bodily infirmities as You manifested then. (Mk 2:2-5; Mt 4:23,24)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for the civil authorities, recognizing that You have established all authority, instituting civil government for our good; calling it Your servant, even Your minister. We pray that they might bear the sword wisely and justly, protecting the innocent, and avenging wrongdoing (Rom 13:1-6).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord, all the world says with Pharaoh, “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?” Remember Your covenant and Your promises and bless all the families of the earth. O that all the earth might be saved. Deliver humanity from its despondency and cruel bondage through the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ex 5, 6)
Prayer of Illumination
As we open Your word to be read and preached, we pray that Your light might enlighten us, Your wisdom counsel us, Your power support us, Your goodness supply us, Your mercy pardon us, Your beauty delight us, Your glory thrill us, and Your fullness fill us.

Pastoral Prayer #24
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord You are good and wise and kind and just. We long to know You and know Your favor.
– Confession
We confess our impurity and hypocrisy. Repeatedly we have practiced righteousness, not for its own sake, but so as to be seen by others; our priorities and motives have been self-serving; we have strained gnats and swallowed camels; we have washed the outside of the cup and left the inside full of corruption and self-indulgence. We
have appeared as whitewashed tombs; outwardly righteous to others, while inwardly harboring anger, hatred, jealousy, lust and lawlessness. (Matt 23:1-36)
– Pardon
O Lord, You are Jehovah-jirah, the Lord who provides. You provided Your Son, Your only Son, whom You love. You have given Your beloved, as a sacrifice for sin. Pardon our transgressions. Cover our guilt. Forgive our iniquities. We call upon the name of the Lord Jesus that we might be saved. We confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in our heart that You raised Him from the dead. Let our faith be counted as righteousness; let our confession of the Lordship of Christ be our salvation. (Gen 22:8-14; Rom 10:9-11)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that we might not cling to this world and this life which is but a shadow which soon passes away, which is but chaff which blows away, which is like the grass that withers and the flower that fades, which is but a vapor and a dream. Oh that we might live not for the seen but the unseen, not for the visible but the invisible, not for the present life but for our future life, not for the temporal but the eternal (Ps 39:4-6; 1:3-4; Is 40:7-8; 1 Pet 1:24-25, 2 Cor. 4:18).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We remember how You were able to raise up a tender-hearted princess from the household of a bloodthirsty Pharaoh, one who showed mercy to Your people and aided their pilgrimage. O that You might grant Your church favor in the eyes of the great ones of the earth, even unbelieving statesmen, scholars, and cultural elites, that we might enjoy peace and liberty to minister Your gospel. (Ex 2:1-10; 1 Tim. 2:1-2)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We recall that Jesus in His earthly ministry was like a man in authority who says to his servants, “Go!” and they go; “Come!” and they come; “Do this!” and they do it. Speak the word, Lord Christ, that the sick might be healed. Show Your sympathy with our weaknesses as we bring our sick brethren to You by prayer and lay them expectantly before You, that they might be well again. (Mt 8:8,9; Heb 4:15; Lk 5:18)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray, O Lord, that our nation might not ever suffer the fate of ancient Babylon, that we might not be overwhelmed by sensuality, or find security in our power, or trust in our own wisdom and knowledge, or invoke idols and false gods. Let us not become a nation upon whom You take vengeance and show no mercy. Turn us from our wickedness and save us. (Is 46-47)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord we pray that the glory of Your kingdom might be established as it was foreshadowed in the days of Solomon. O that the fame of the “greater than Solomon,” the Lord Jesus Christ, might spread to the
ends of the earth. We pray that the nations might come, as did the Queen of Sheba, to hear the wisdom of Him in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, to see His wealth, and to admire the justice and righteousness of Him who has loved righteousness and hated wickedness. (2 Chron 8,9, Col 2:3; Heb 1:9)
Prayer of Illumination
As times change, and people change, and styles change, and values change, and nations change, as we live in a world in which all is in flux and nothing is stable or constant or reliable; we rejoice in our immutable God and His unchanging word, and its unchanging truths. As it is read and preached we pray that You would give us understanding that our hearts might be comforted and our souls made secure (Mal 3:6).

Pastoral Prayer #25
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We come to You, Father of mercies and God of all comforts, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (2 Cor 1:4; 1 Cor 2:8; Jas 2:1)
– Confession
We confess our misplaced love for the world and the things of the world. We have been enticed by the lust of the eyes: we have craved and coveted beautiful things; we confess our materialism and excessive consumption; we have been seduced by the lust of the flesh: by sensuous and immoral images and fantasies; and we have been deceived by the boastful pride of life: by idols of power and prestige, of position and popularity. (1 Jn 2:15-17)
– Pardon
We look to Calvary; we look to the cross; and to the twisted, tortured figure of Christ, by whose suffering and death the sin of the world is atoned; we look to the shedding of His blood, the blood of the new covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin. Pardon our transgression in Jesus’ name; cover our guilt. O Lord, our faith is in Christ alone, and in Him we trust that we might escape condemnation and be saved. (1 Cor 11:25; Rom 8:1)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that the perishing trifles of this world might not blind our minds or harden our hearts or sear our consciences or corrupt our wills or disorder our affections. O that we might honor you, O God, exalt Christ, obey the Spirit, love the saints.
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray, O Lord, that we might devote ourselves to the church, its work, and its services. We pray for Your new Jerusalem, that it might not ever become like old Jerusalem, which killed the prophets and stoned those whom You sent to her. O that we might ever listen to Your word and obey Your commands and directions, and fulfill our commission. Gather and protect us, as a hen gathers her chicks, under Your protecting wings. Preserve Your church, O Lord, and prosper our gospel ministry (Luke 13:31-35).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
As we pray for the sick we remember that humanity is born for trouble as surely as the sparks fly upward. We pray that we might seek You in our afflictions and trust your purposes in our issues of health and wholeness, and of life and death. Deliver us from our troubles. Preserve our lives. Sustain us on our sick beds. Restore us to full health. Be gracious to us and heal us and forgive our sins. (Job 5:6-8; Deut 32:39; Ps 41:1-4)
Prayers for the Nation
Our nation resembles wayward Israel of old: justice is turned back, righteousness stands afar off, truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. [The righteous have become a prey for the wicked.] O that You might establish justice, righteousness, truth, and uprightness throughout our land. (Is 59:1-15)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for Your mission around the world. Encourage those laboring in foreign fields. Fulfill Your promise to give to Your beloved Son the nations as His inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth as His possession. We pray that He might be a light to all the Gentiles, that the ends of the earth might witness the greatness of Your salvation. (Ps 2:8; Is 49:6)
Prayer of Illumination
As we open Your word we pray that You might purge from our hearts all that clouds our judgment, that distorts our thinking, and poisons our perceptions. Grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to receive al that You reveal in Your holy word.

Pastoral Prayer #26
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You, O Lord, are righteous in all Your ways, and kind in all Your deeds. You are near to all who call upon You, to all who call upon You in truth. (Ps 145:17,18)
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, sins of the heart: we have harbored hatred, jealousy, anger, and disordered affections; we confess sins of the mind: we have entertained false doctrines, flawed ethics, and empty philosophies; and we confess sins of conduct: we have indulged behavior that is unloving, unkind, selfish, cold, and indifferent.
– Pardon
We look, O Lord, to the cross and the atoning death of Christ. We look to His blood, the blood of the new covenant, for the forgiveness of our sins. His blood, O Lord, is justifying blood; it is reconciling blood; it is saving blood. O that we might be justified, pardoned, reconciled, and saved. Recreate us after Your likeness O God, in true righteousness and holiness; raise us up from our spiritual death in trespasses and sins and make us alive together with Christ; raise us up with Him and seat us with Him in the heavenly places. (Rom 5:9; Heb 9:22; Eph 1:7; 4:24; 2:1,5,6; Col 1:14,20)
Prayer for Sanctification
O Father, we pray that we might have the simple faith of the multitudes who heard Jesus gladly. We pray that we might emulate the widow who put her “mite” into the offering box, who in doing so gave more than those who contributed out of their abundance, since she gave all she had to live on (Mk 12:37; 41-44).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
When we assemble as the church, we pray that we might encounter to You as did Moses in the burning bush, and that your presence might make this place become holy ground, and we might be a holy people. Speak to us, O Lord. Teach us all that You would have us to do. O that we might believe, and obey, and bow low and worship, and serve You; we pray that our ministry might be fruitful and faithful, pleasing to You and honoring of You. (Ex 3:1-6; 4:31).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for all who are sick that they might be healed. We pray especially for those whose illness has continued for an extended period. Encourage them as they wait quietly for Your deliverance. Let patience do its work of perfecting those who dwell long in the furnace of affliction, that they might be complete, lacking in nothing. Let suffering produce endurance, endurance produce character, and character produce a hope that will not disappoint (Jas 1:4; Lam 3:26; Rom 5:3-5).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for integrity in high places; that those who hold public office would honor the rule of law; would practice honesty; would speak the truth and forsake falsehood; that the culture of corruption might be purged from the political system. We pray that our civil servants might govern our nation according to Your word and not according to narrow partisan interests.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray that Your gospel might spread through the labors of Your ministers and missionaries at home and abroad. Let the folly of those who foolishly say there is no God be exposed. Teach transgressors Your ways and let sinners be converted to You. Let the unbelieving come to their senses. Deliver humanity from the snare of the devil. Grant the multitudes repentance and the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. (Ps 14:1; 51:13; 2 Tim 2:25, 26)
Prayer of Illumination
As we open the Scriptures, we confess Your word is forever firmly fixed in the heavens. Your word is our delight. Your commandment is exceedingly broad. Open our eyes to see its beauty and breadth. (Psalm 119: 89-96)

Pastoral Prayer #27
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You, O Lord, are a kind and generous Father to all Your children. You have granted us a rich and full inheritance in Christ Jesus, declaring even that all that is Yours is ours. (Lk 15:31; 1 Cor 3:21,22)
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that we are prodigals. Repeatedly we have journeyed to a far country and squandered our gifts and opportunities with loose and unworthy living. Our souls have been polluted and degraded by our waywardness and unbelief. We have sinned, O Lord, against heaven and in Your sight, and are not worthy to be called Your sons. (Lk 15:11-24)
– Pardon
Have compassion on us, O Lord; restore us to Yourself. Welcome and embrace your wayward children. Apply to our benefit the blood of Christ. Forgive our sin. Pardon our foolishness. Clothe us with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Shod our feet with the gospel of peace. O that our souls might feast upon the fattened calf of forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Eph 6:15)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray not for more honors or more wealth or more pleasure but for more fellowship with You, more grace from You, more holiness like You; we pray for more power against corruption, more strength to resist temptations, more capacity to bear afflictions, more sense of Your love and more assurance of our salvation in Jesus Christ.
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that we might be faithful members of the church embracing our mutual responsibility and accountability. When fellow believers sin we pray that we would be faithful to rebuke them; when they repent that we would be faithful to forgive them, and even if they sin against us, even 7 times a day, and repent 7 times a day, that we would forgive them. We confess, O Lord, that when we have done all You have commanded us, we are still unworthy servants; we have only done that which we ought to have done. (Luke 17:3-4,10)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray, O Lord, for health and wholeness. When our bodies appear to be failing, be the strength of our hearts and our everlasting refuge. Be present with us as our Good Shepherd even in the valley of death’s dark shadow, even there guiding us with Your rod and supporting us with Your staff. Be our ever-present help in time of greatest need (Ps 73:26; 23:4; 46:1, John 10:14).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray, O Lord that we might willingly be subject to the governing authorities, paying what is owed: tax to whom tax is due; respect to whom respect is due; honor to whom honor is due. Yet we also pray that our public leaders might listen to Your word in essential matters of morality, of basic principles of right and wrong, and of life and death. (Romans 13:7)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord, the fields are white unto harvest, send forth laborers into the fields. Raise up missionaries and ministers of Your gospel from our own congregation; bless Your word as it is read and preached, throughout our community, and to the ends of the earth; gather a numberless multitude from every nation, tongue, and tribe (John 4:35; Matthew 9:36-38; Revelation 7:9).
Prayer of Illumination
As we open the Scriptures, we pray, O Lord, that like Your prophet Jeremiah we might eat Your words, that Your words might become to us a joy, and a delight to our hearts, for we are called by Your name, O Lord, the God of Hosts. (Jeremiah 15:15-16)

Pastoral Prayer #28
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
Your law, O God, is holy, righteous, and good. It is more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold; it is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb (Rom. 7:12; Ps. 19:10).
– Confession
Nevertheless, we confess, O Lord, that we have broken Your law, slighted Your authority, and dishonored Your name. We have forsaken the fountain of living waters for cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water; we have exchanged the bread of heaven for the world’s scraps; the truth of God for a lie; the creature for the creator.
– Pardon
Have mercy on us, O God. Pardon our sins. Forgive our iniquities. Grant us remission of our sins through the poured-out blood of the new covenant. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse us from all our sin (Jer 2:13; Rom 1:18-24; Matt 26:28; 1 John 1:7).
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray, O Lord, that we might diligent to take up the whole armor of God, that we might be able to withstand in the evil day, even to stand firm. Equip us, O Lord, with the belt of truth, with the breastplate of righteousness, with the gospel of peace, with the shield of faith with which to extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; equip us with the helmet of salvation, with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, and with all prayer and supplication. O that we might keep alert with all perseverance, praying at all times, making supplication for all the saints, and for the proclamation of the gospel. (Eph 6:13-24)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
O Lord, equip our church for the tasks to which You assign us. We remember how Your servant Moses was full of self-doubt, how he was slow of speech and slow of tongue, yet You taught him what he was to say; and provided for Moses a fluent Aaron, who could be as his mouth, and speak for him to the people. Like Moses we sense our inadequacy. Our sufficiency is only in Christ. Anoint Your servants to preach and teach Your word with power and move Your people to serve as Your witnesses that we as a church might fulfill our commission (Exodus 4:10-17; 2 Cor 2:16–3:5).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for all the sick. Particularly we pray that you might show Your special pity toward sick children even as they are the special objects of the loving care of their parents. They come into the world fragile as little flowers. Guard, protect, and heal them. Let them grow and mature and accomplish all the purposes that You might design for them. (Ps 103:13; Job 14:2, 6)
Prayers for the Nation
We are grieved, O Lord, when we learn of corruption in our government, of cover-ups and kickbacks, of back-door deals and deception, or favoritism, partiality, and cronyism. We pray that You might purge our civil government of its corruption and raise up leaders of integrity and wisdom.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
You, O Lord, rule over the nations. You sit on Your throne judging righteously. You execute judgment with equity. Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Your due. Hasten the day, we pray, when Your rule is consummated. O that Jesus might gather the nations to Himself through His servants and that he might continue to reign until all His enemies are under His feet, when death is abolished, and all things are in subjection to Him. (Ps 22:28; Jer 10:7; Ps 94:8; 1 Cor 15:25-27)
Prayer of Illumination
We remember, O Lord, how that Jesus looked on the multitudes with compassion, because they were sheep without a shepherd, and He taught them many things. As we open Your word we pray that You might be our Shepherd and teach us all that You would have us know, by the power of Your Holy Spirit. O that You might feed us as you fed the five thousand, and quench the hunger and thirst of our souls. (Mark 6:33-44)

Pastoral Prayer #29
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You, O Lord, are a God who distinguishes between the clean and the unclean, the just and the unjust, the moral and the immoral, the righteous and the unrighteous, the holy and the unholy, the true from the untrue. You hate wickedness; You despise evil; You abhor falsehood (Psalm 5:4-6; 11:6; Prov. 6:16-19).
– Confession
We confess that our souls are poisoned by sin; Our hearts are dark; our motives are corrupt; our thoughts are evil; our behavior is sordid (Isa. 1:6; Jer. 17:9).
– Pardon
We look for mercy only to Jesus and His cross, Jesus and His righteousness, Jesus and His promises. Forgive our sin. Remove our guilt as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12). Cleanse our hearts. Correct our waywardness. Subdue our willfulness. Enlighten our darkness with the light of life (1 John 1:9; John 1:4).
Prayer for Sanctification
Sanctify and transform us. We pray that we faithfully might work out our salvation with fear and trembling, with all the confidence that comes from knowing that You are at work in us, to will and to work for Your own good pleasure. (Phil 2:12, 13)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
O Lord we are thankful for the liberty that we all enjoy in Christ We pray that we might withhold judgment of each other with respect to things permitted, but be fully convinced in our own minds: convinced whether to eat or not eat, to drink or not drink, to observe or not observe. We pray that we might determine to live for You, and if we die, to die for You. Each of us is Yours, O Lord, whether we live or die, for You are Lord of the living and the dead. O that we might pursue the things which make for peace, and the building up of one another. (Rom 14:1-12)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for those who are enduring affliction, that like Job they might come forth like gold. Let them recover and thrive that they might serve and praise You. Speak Your word that they might be healed. Restore them to full health and wholeness and let the cup of suffering pass from them. (Job 33:10; Mt 8:8; 26:39)
Prayers for the Nation
O Lord, cleanse the corruption of our civilization; restrain those who openly defy Your law and flaunt immorality and sensuality and assault Your people with seductive images of sin’s passing pleasures. O Lord open the eyes of the masses of our people and awaken throughout our land a clamor for moral purity, godliness, and modesty. (Hebrews 11:25)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for the unbelieving and lost multitudes around us and all around the world. They wander about like sheep without a shepherd. O Lord, have compassion upon them and teach them. Guide them to the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep. Let them be led by the Chief Shepherd, and ruled by the Great Shepherd of Sheep (Mt 9:36; Jn 10:11; Jas 5:4; Heb 13:20).
Prayer of Illumination
O Lord, all over the world today Your word is being opened. As we give our attention to its reading and preaching, cause your word to take deep root in the hearts of those who hear. O that faith might come by hearing the word of Christ. O that many would be born again through Your living and abiding word. O that multitudes would grow by the pure milk of Your word (Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 2:2).

Pastoral Prayer #30
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
As the deer pants for the cool water of the stream, so thirsts our souls for You, O God, the living God (Ps 42:1).
– Confession
O Lord, we come to rid ourselves of our guilt. We confess that we have been corrupted by the gods of this world. We have been seduced by sensuous and sinful desires; we have compromised with the gods of pleasure and entertainment and power and possessions. We have squandered time and resources in pursuit of our idols and lusts, and neglected the weightier matters of time and eternity. We have demanded comfort and amusement, and refused discipline and self-denial. We have failed to crucify the flesh and its lusts; failed to take up our cross and faithfully follow You. (Gal 5:24; Mt 16:24, 25)
– Pardon
O that we might be sprinkled with the blood of Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of Christ. O that we might know the fullest measure of Your grace and peace. Forgive and pardon us. Show us Your great mercy. Let us be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Grant us an inheritance in heaven that is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away. Protect us by Your power. Keep us safe until the fullness of Your salvation is revealed (1 Pet 1:2-5)
Prayer for Sanctification
O Lord, we give thanks for so great a salvation as we pray for our sanctification; according to Your own enabling mercy, we present to You our bodies as living and holy sacrifices, and as our spiritual service of worship. We pray that we might not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds. O that we might know and embrace Your good and acceptable and perfect will. Grant us the grace of sound judgment. (Rom. 12:1-3)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for the church as the household of God, the church of the living God. Let us ever be the “pillar and support of the truth.” O that we might resist the temptation to compromise the gospel, to water-it-down and dress-it-up. O that we might not succumb to what is intellectually or morally fashionable, or considered socially or politically correct (1 Tim. 3:15).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for those who are sick and suffering, that they might cast their burden on You, our loving Lord, that You might sustain them. Increase their faith that they might trust You and not be afraid even in a time of severe affliction. Be their rock of refuge and their fortress. Be their help and deliverer. Hasten to their help and do not delay. (Ps 55:27; 56:3,4; 71:3; 40:13,17)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for the defeat of our enemies. Discredit the religion of jihad, of sharia, and terror. Bring universal revulsion and contempt for its violence and evil. We pray for peace in the Middle East and for the freedom to preach the gospel without fear throughout that entire region.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
As we pray for missions around the world, we pray for the physical seed of Abraham, that all Israel might be saved. This is our heart’s desire and prayer. O that they might look with faith on Him whom they have pierced. Take away the veil of Moses that is blinding their hearts, that they and all the world might turn to You, O Lord and be saved. (Rom. 10:1; 11:26; Zech 12:10; 2 Cor 3:16)
Prayer of Illumination
O Lord, as we hear Your word read and preached, we pray that You might write your truths on our hearts, that we might be careful to believe, keep, and do them, and teach them diligently to our children, speaking of them when we sit in our homes and when we walk by the way and when we lie down and when we rise up, to the end that we might love You, the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might. (Deut. 6:1-7)

Pastoral Prayer #31
Veterans
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We give thanks, O Lord, for Your steadfast love that never ceases; for Your mercies that never come to an end but are new every morning; and for Your great faithfulness. (Lam 3:22,23)
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that we need Your mercy. We acknowledge that we have drunk iniquity like water. There is no health in our bones because of our sin. We are guilty of both secret, hidden faults and defiant, presumptuous sins; our transgressions are more numerous than the hairs of our head. Like a great burden, they pile up, and
weigh heavily upon us. (Ps 19:12; 40:12; 38:3-4; Job 15:16)
– Pardon
We look to the cross alone for a way of deliverance. We look to our Lord Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for our sin; Who is able to deliver us from the present evil age; Who offered up Himself without blemish once for all; Who obtained eternal redemption, not through the finite blood of bull and goats, but through His own blood of infinite worth. Forgive our sins, pardon our offenses, blot out our iniquities, and release us from our sins by His blood; transform our hearts; renew our minds; fill us with your Holy Spirit. (Gal 1:4; Heb 7:27, 9:12,14; Rev 1:5)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that we might not love the world or the things of the world; that we might not be seduced by the lust of the flesh, by the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life; that we might not crave this world and its illicit pleasures and honors, which are all passing away. O that we might rather do Your will that we might abide forever. (1 Jn 2:15-17).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that Your church universal and local would be faithful to preach Your word, in season or out of season, when convenient and inconvenient, preach so as to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, preach without fear, without compromise, and without apology; sanctify us by the truth of Your word (2 Timothy 4:1,2; John 17:17).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Heal and restore our sick and suffering ones, we pray O Lord. We give thanks for your kindness in hearing our petitions and healing our sick in the past. We would follow the example of the one leper of the ten who gave You all the praise and glory and not the nine who failed to do so. Hear our pleas once more and heal our people (Lk 17:17,18; 2 Chron 32:24,25; Ps 50:23; 118:21).
Prayers for the Nation
O Lord we are grateful that You have ordained that governments should bear the sword to protect the innocent and punish those who practice evil (Romans 13:1-17). We are grateful for the countless veterans of our nation’s policing and military forces who have sacrificed their years, their health, and even their lives, that our lives, liberties, and prosperity might be preserved. You have given our nation unequaled power and wealth. We pray that we might always use our vast resources cautiously and justly.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord we pray that through the proclamation of Your gospel that You would establish Your “peaceable kingdom” throughout the whole world. Usher in that day when the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; that day when a little child shall lead them; when the cow and the bear shall graze; and their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and the nursing child shall play on the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper’s den; when no aggressor shall hurt nor destroy in all the earth. (Is 11:6-9; cf. Isa 65:25)
Prayer of Illumination
O Lord, through the reading and preaching of Your word grant us wisdom, prudence, knowledge, and discretion; grant us the fear of the Lord which is to hate evil: pride, arrogance, the way of evil, and perverted speech. Grant us Your counsel and sound wisdom, insight and strength, through Jesus Christ our Lord (Prov 8:13-14).

Pastoral Prayer #32
Thanksgiving Season
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You have made us and made all things. You give to all life and breath and all things. In You we live and move and have our being. (Ps 8:1; Acts 17:25,26)
– Confession
Yet we have despised Your gifts and defied Your law. We have rejected Your authority, refused to honor You as God, and fallen short of Your glory. We confess the sins of our nation; our lawlessness; violence; dishonesty; impiety; immorality and a plague of illegitimacy, divorce, disease, crime, abortion, and confusion.
– Pardon
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, who gave Himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age. Blot out our transgressions, wash us from our iniquities, hide Your face from our sins; deliver us from blood guiltiness. (Rom 1:17ff; Gal 1:4; Ps 51:1-9)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that we might be characterized by the fruit of the Holy Spirit; by: love and not hate; joy and not misery; peace and not anxiety; patience and not anger; goodness and not evil; kindness and not cruelty; gentleness and not arrogance; faithfulness and not fickleness; self-control and not self-indulgence. O that this fruit might ripen to maturity in the depths of our souls. (Gal. 5:22, 23)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for the church, the church local and universal, that it would be faithful and bold. We pray that we might never be disloyal to Your gospel or betray sound doctrine, or succumb to the pressure to tickle ears or alter Your word or gather teachers who will teach in accordance with our own desires (2 Timothy 4:3,4).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray that You might strengthen the weak hands and steady the feeble knees. Say to those with anxious hearts, “Take courage, fear not.” Speak to those in distress Your gracious words, comforting words. Let them hear the voice of joy and gladness. Let them know Your healing power. (Heb 12:12; Isa 35:3,4; Zech 1:13)
Prayers for the Nation
You have commanded us, O Lord, as citizens of heaven and exiles on earth, to seek the welfare of the nation in which we are placed, and to “pray… on its behalf, for in its welfare (we) will find (our own) welfare.” We pray for our nation, that it might have peace; that it might prosper; that it might be just; that it might be wise; that it might practice righteousness that we might be a nation that pleases and honors you and, in this season, a nation that is grateful to You, O God, for all of your gifts (Phil 3:1; 1 Pet 1:1; Jer. 29:7).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray that Your name might be known and honored in all the earth. O that the world would not remain blind to Your goodness. Open the eyes of unbelievers that they might see light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, and know of Your grace and love. Bless the mission of your church throughout the world. (2 Cor 4:4).
Prayer of Illumination
As we open the Scripture, we pray that we may hear wisdom’s call through Your word, and heed the raised voice of understanding; though we are simple, we pray that we might learn Your prudence, and though foolish, that we might learn good sense. O that we might receive what is noble, righteous, and true, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Prov 8:1-7)

Pastoral Prayer #33
Thanksgiving Season
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You, O Lord, work all things after the counsel of Your own will; You work all things together for the good of Your people. You number even the hairs upon our heads (Eph. 1:11; Rom. 8:28; Matt. 10:30).
– Confession
We confess our failure to give thanks. We have not rejoiced in our material and spiritual abundance. We have presumed upon Your gifts. We have obsessed over what we lack and judged ourselves entitled to what we have. We lament our persistent ingratitude and our sinful discontent (1 Thess 5:18).
– Pardon
Forgive our sins, O Lord. Pardon our iniquities. Cover our guilt with the blood of Christ, clothe us with the righteousness of Christ, and fill us with the Spirit of Christ.
Prayer for Sanctification
O that we might be characterized by contentment, whether brought low or abounding; whether facing plenty or hunger, whether encountering abundance or need. O that we may rejoice always and in everything giving thanks, all through strength that You provide (Phil 4:11-13; 1 Thess 5:16-18).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We rejoice in the faithfulness of our forefathers in the faith, who sought land for a dissenting meeting house, a place of worship for those who were professors of the doctrines of the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. O that we might perpetuate that heritage of biblical and theological fidelity.
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We rejoice in this holiday season and its many tokens of Your goodness. Yet we also remember those for whom the holidays are a time of sadness: who grieve because of the absence of departed loved ones; whose evenings are spent at home alone; or who are absent from us because poor health prevents attendance at public services. O Lord, heal the sick, comfort the downcast, give peace to the anxious, and joy to the despairing.
Prayers for the Nation
We pray with thanksgiving for our nation: for a godly heritage of pilgrim and Puritan Fathers; for their devotion to gospel truth and gospel worship; for the sacrifices of multitudes who followed them to this fair land; we pray that You might guard and expand our national prosperity that enriches us; our national freedoms that shield us from oppression: freedoms of religion, speech, press, and assembly; our divinely endowed rights to life, liberty, property, and suffrage; our national power, that protects us from outside invaders and from the attacks of terrorists; and we pray that You might restore our national piety: that true devotion to You, O God, might prevail, as in days of old.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for Christian missions around the world. When we consider the scale of our task, we pray that we might not lose heart. We give thanks that our evangelistic setbacks, our church-planting disappointments, our mission-field failures are but momentary, light afflictions that are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. We look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen, for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things unseen are eternal. Do your hidden work of conversion, O Lord, and expand Your church throughout the world. (2 Cor. 4:16-18)
Prayer of Illumination
We pray that we might be a people who are quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; that we might put aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, and in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save our souls. We pray that we might prove ourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude ourselves. (James 1:19-22)

Pastoral Prayer #34
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
The earth is Yours, O Lord, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For You have founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. (Ps 24:1-2)
– Confession
O Lord we confess the weakness of our spiritual convictions and commitments. Our faith has withered before temptation. It has been weakened by affliction and persecution. We’ve allowed it to be choked by the worries of the world, the pleasures of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches. We have been distracted and faithless, disobedient and worldly. (Mt 13:9-22; Lk 8:13,14)
– Pardon
We flee for mercy to the message of truth, the gospel of our salvation. You have promised us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Grant us redemption in Christ’s blood. Grant us the
forgiveness of our trespasses. O that we might know the immeasurable riches of Your grace; that we might know the unsearchable riches of Christ; that we might know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. O that Your grace in Christ might be lavished upon us, granting us pardon for sin, adoption as sons, and life everlasting and eternal. Grant us a sure and certain confidence of these things. (Eph 1:2,7,8; 2:1,7; 3:8,19)
Prayer for Sanctification
O Lord, we pray for our growth in grace. We pray that we might be meek/humble like Moses, who was more humble than any man who was on the face of the earth (Num 12:3); and courageous like Caleb and Joshua who urged the people forward though there were giants in the land (Num 13:30; 14:30); and brave, like Aaron, who took his stand between the dead and the living, and so checked the plague of evil that was spreading across the land (Num 15:48); and faithful like Phineas, who was jealous with Your jealousy, O God, and made atonement for the people of Israel (Num 25).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
Oh that your people might be diligent to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, and that we might not forsake our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another all the more. (Heb. 10:24-25)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We intercede for those who are afflicted. Heal them. Encourage them. Rebuke Satan, the tempter, who constantly accuses the brethren. Pluck vulnerable souls from the fires of trial and temptation. Comfort those whose souls have struggled to find comfort. [O that we might trust in Your lovingkindness. Let our hearts rejoice in Your salvation and let us see that You have dealt bountifully with us.] Let us say with Job, though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. (Zech 3:2; Ps 77:2,3; 13:5; Job 13:15)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray, O Lord, for the civil authorities. We willingly submit ourselves for Your sake to every human institution, to kings and presidents and governors and judges sent by You for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. O that we might honor all men, love the brethren, fear You O God, and honor the civil authorities. (1 Pt 2:13-17)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray, O Lord, for the servants of Your word around the world, as they look to You and depend on You. We pray that You might give power to the faint and strength to those who have no might. Renew and empower your servants that they might mount up with wings like eagles; that they might run and not be weary, walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:29-31).
Prayer of Illumination
As all Scripture is given by divine inspiration, let it prove profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Let Your word now equip us, that we might be complete for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16, 17)

Pastoral Prayer #35
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You, LORD, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. (Ps 86:5)
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that we have sinned both in what we have done as well as in what we have failed to do. You have warned that whatever is not of faith is sin, and yet we have not trusted You; You have warned that to know what to do and fail to do it is sin, and yet we have not done what is right. You have required us to do all to Your
glory, yet Your glory has not been our aim. You have called us in all our work to serve Christ, and yet we have served self and our own ambitions. We have quietly defied and subtly resisted Your authority. Actively and passively we have failed the requirements of Your word. (Rom 14:23; Jas 4:17; 1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:23)
– Pardon
You, Lord Christ, are the Holy One of God. Forgive our sins, O Lord. Pardon us. O that we might be granted eternal life and be raised up on the last day. We pray that we might abide in Christ, and Christ in us; that we might feed upon the bread of life and live forever. O that we might receive Your words that are spirit and life, even eternal life. O that by faith we might come to You and drink, that from our innermost being there might flow rivers of living water. (Jn 6:52–7:38)
Prayer for Sanctification
O Father, we come to you weak and frail, praying for Your strength for life and living, trusting that Your grace is sufficient for us; that Your power is perfected in weakness. O that we might be content with weaknesses, hardships, and persecutions, knowing that when we are weak, then we are strong (2 Corinthians 12:1-10).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that the church might be courageous, like Esther & Mordecai, “in such a time as this.” Defend us, O LORD, from the Hamans of the world who would destroy your church. Give us favor in the eyes of the civil government and peace and liberty in our time, and fruitfulness in ministry (Esther).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We remember, O Lord, how Jesus healed the woman who touched his garment, who had been suffering for twelve years with her condition; and we remember how He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. We pray that You might heal our sick, even those whose condition the physicians regard as incurable or terminal, and command them to rise up and be healed. (Mark 5:21-43)
Prayers for the Nation
You, O Lord, are the judge of the nations. In the days of Jeremiah You judged Egypt and Philistia, Moab and Ammon, Edom and Damascus, and others because they trusted in their false gods, in their works and their treasures, they magnified themselves against You and held Your people in derision. They were full of pride and arrogance and haughtiness of heart; full of insolence and false boasts and false deeds. We pray that our nation might not follow in their path. O that we might forsake our idols and false gods and humble ourselves and submit to You, the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Jeremiah 46-49)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for the conversion of the nations. Encourage Your servants throughout the world as they teach transgressors Your ways. Let sinners be converted to You. Let multitudes receive that inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled and will never fade away, which is reserved for all in heaven. (Psalm 51:13; 1 Pet 1:4)
Prayer of Illumination
Your kingdom grows not by might, nor by power, but by Your Spirit. Let Your Spirit empower Your word as it is read and proclaimed this day. (Zech 4:6)

Pastoral Prayer #36
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You, O Lord, our King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, the blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. (1 Tim 1:17, 6:15)
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that You are immutable, and we are fickle, unreliable and inconsistent; You are almighty, and we are weak and frail; You are all-knowing and wise, and we are ignorant and foolish; You are perfectly clean and pure, and we are stained and polluted by sin; You are righteous and just, and we are guilty and condemned.
– Pardon
We pray that Your grace might abound where our sin abounds. We pray that the blood sacrifice of Christ might cover all our sin and that our guilt might be forgiven. O that we might be counted righteous through the obedience of Christ. Fulfill Your promise what whosoever believes in Jesus Christ will not perish but have everlasting life. (Rom 5:19,20; Jn 3:16)
Prayer for Sanctification
O Lord, sanctify Your people. We pray that we might not only be counted righteous but made righteous; we pray that we might be faithful; that we might walk by faith and not by sight; that we might look not on the things that are visible and temporal but invisible and eternal; O that it might be our ambition to be pleasing to You; let the love of Christ control us; let us live no longer for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf; O that we might manifestly be new creatures in Christ, the old things passing away and all things becoming new (2 Cor 4:18; 5:7,9,14,17).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that our worship as a whole and our preaching in particular would be such that visiting unbelievers will be convicted by all, called to account by all, have the secrets of their hearts disclosed, and even fall on their faces and worship You, declaring that God is truly among us (1 Cor 14:24-25). We pray for a godly church order that promotes learning and encouragement; for You are not a God of confusion but of peace. O that all things might be done decently and in order. (1 Cor 14:20-40).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for those who are suffering. Retrieve them from the miry bog of sickness and discouragement. Set their feet upon a rock and make their steps secure. Put a new song of praise in their mouths. Renew a right spirit within them, and grant them the joy of their salvation. Heal all the afflictions of Your people and restore us all to wholeness. (Ps 40:1-3; 51:10-12)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for our ongoing struggle against the religion of terrorism [of beheadings and suicide bombers]. O Lord dispel the darkness of radical Islam. Let its influence and power not grow in our nation. Guard those who are agents of light in this conflict.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray that Your gospel kingdom might grow. Bring peace and freedom and the truth of the gospel to the whole world, especially the Muslim world. Let the rebellious and unbelieving multitudes be humbled and drawn to Christ Jesus. Let all the earth worship You and sing praises to Your name. Let all the earth shout for joy to You, O God, and sing of the glory of Your name, and give You glorious praise (Psalm 66:1-7).
Prayer of Illumination
As we open Your Word, teach us Your statutes, that with our whole heart we might keep Your precepts, and delight in Your law, and learn Your commandments. (Psalm 119:65-72)

Pastoral Prayer #37
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You, O Lord, are a God who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; You forgive iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet You will by no means clear the guilty. You warn of tribulation and distress for every soul that sins. You warn that the soul that sins shall die; that the wage of sin is
death. (Ex 34:6-8; Rom 2:9; Ez 18:4; Rom 6:23)
– Confession
We confess our guilt and corruption. We confess our evil words and deeds without, and dark thoughts within. We have harbored jealousy and envy; we have nursed anger and hatred; we have entertained lust and covetousness; we have served false gods and idols; we have left vanity, pride, and conceit unmortified.
– Pardon
You have promised that if we confess our sins You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. O that the blood of Jesus might cleanse us from all our sin. Grant us pardon through our Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Let His death propitiate our sins and those of the whole
world. (1 Jn 1:9-2:2)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray, O Lord, for our growth particularly in our commitment to prayer. We pray that we might be devoted to prayer; that we might be constant in prayer; that we might always pray and not lose heart. O that we might pester You, as did the persistent widow, wearing You down with our petitions. We pray that You might hear us as we cry to You day and night, and respond speedily. Increase our faith that we might pray believing. (Lk 18:1-8; Col 4:2; Rom 12:12)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
O Lord we are a congregation who have tasted and seen Your goodness. We pray that we might put away all malice and deceit and hypocrisy and envy and that we might grow by the pure milk of Your word. Build us up like living stones as a spiritual house, a royal priesthood, that we might offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to You, O God, through Jesus Christ. O that our ministry might be effective, that it might grow and flourish. (1 Peter 2:1-7)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for those to whom You have given the bread of adversity and the water of affliction. Bind up the brokenness of Your people and heal their wounds. Let them know the blessings of those who wait patiently for Your blessing. Grant them a song in the night and gladness of heart. (Isaiah 30:20, 26, 18)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray for our nation. You have promised, O Lord, that by the blessing of the upright a city is exalted. We pray that Your disciples might be upright, people of integrity, blameless in their ways, and that You might spare our nation Your wrath. Bless our nation with material well-being, wise leadership, protection from our enemies, and a favorable environment for Your church. (Prov. 11:11)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord add to that multitude that no one can number people from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue, who will stand before Your throne in heaven and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, washed in the blood of the Lamb, with palm branches in their hands. Add to that multitude who will cry out “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb;” who will fall on their faces before Your throne, O God, and worship You, saying, “Amen: Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!” (Rev 7:9)
Prayer of Illumination
Teach us Your commandments and impart Your teachings, so that when we walk, they might lead us, and when we lie down, they might watch over us, and when we awake, they might talk to us. Let Your commandments be our lamp, and Your teaching a light, and Your reproofs a way of life, to preserve us from evil. (Proverbs 6:20-24)

Pastoral Prayer #38
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We come to You, our Father, confident to enter the holy place, through the new and living way, inaugurated by the blood of Christ, drawing near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (Heb 10:19-22).
– Confession
We confess our stubborn willfulness and rebellion. We confess our waywardness and defiance. We have resented Your law and its restrictions; we have rejected Your will and the limits it imposes. We have regarded Your commandments as burdensome and Your yoke as hard. We have avoided the paths of righteousness and preferred walking in the counsel of the wicked and standing in the path of sinners, and sitting in the seat of scoffers. (Ps 1:1)
– Pardon
O Lord, we repent with grief and hatred of our sin. Break down the walls of unbelief and impenitence that we have erected in our hearts. We look to Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. He is the door through whom we pray for entrance into Your heavenly kingdom: grant us in Jesus’ name mercy and pardon, grace and forgiveness, salvation and peace. (Jn 14:6; Prov 3:6; Jn 10:9).
Prayer for Sanctification
We confess that we are of little faith. We have allowed ourselves to be paralyzed by our fears and crippled by our anxieties. Increase our faith. O that we might not be anxious for our children, anxious for our spouses, anxious on the highways, anxious in the airways, anxious over the seaways. We pray that we might trust Your protection and provision; that we might trust that You are causing all things to work together for our good, that You are a God against whose will not even a sparrow can fall from a tree (Luke 17:5; Rom 8:28; Mt 10:29).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that we might be faithful and resist the taunts and opposition of the Sanballats and Tobiahs who would mock and discourage the progress of Your kingdom. We pray that like Nehemiah we might faithfully both pray to You O God and set a guard. O that we might walk in Your fear O God and not in the fear of man. O that You might strengthen our hands (Neh. 4:9; 5:9; 6:9).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We remember, O Lord, how in the days of King Hezekiah, when he became sick to the point of death, you heard his prayer and saw his tears, and added years to his life. Hear our prayers for the sick and suffering. Restore their health. Deliver them from their afflictions. Let them thrive again in the land of the living (Isa 38:1-21).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray, O Lord, that our nation might not become like Sodom and Gomorrah, filled with the worst perversion, our people wearying themselves committing evil, rejecting any and every standard of morality while complaining of judgmentalism. We pray that You might not rain judgment upon our land but that there might be national repentance and revival. (Genesis 19:1-29)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray that Christian mission might expand in such a way that all the earth might sing to You a new song, and bless Your name, and tell of Your salvation. O that Your glory might be declared among the nations and Your marvelous works among all peoples. We pray that all the families of the peoples might ascribe to You, the glory due Your name, and worship You in the splendor of holiness; Let all the earth tremble before You and let all the nations know that You, the Lord our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reigns! (Psalm 96)
Prayer of Illumination
Grant us through the Scriptures instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for Your wisdom is better than jewels, better than all else with which it might be compared, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Proverbs 8:8-11)

Pastoral Prayer #39
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, You have so loved the world that You sent Your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16).
– Confession
Yet we have presumed upon Your love. We have sinned against You even as Your privileged people. We have sinned against the light of Your word, the righteousness of Your law, and Your love in the gospel. We have resisted, grieved, and quenched Your Spirit, silenced the accusations of conscious, ignored the light of nature, and despised the voice of wisdom (Acts 7:51; Eph 4 :30; 1 Thess 5:19; Rom 2:14; Ps 19:1; Jas 3:17).
– Pardon
We plead for Your mercy, not by looking to ourselves, but to Jesus, He alone has the words of eternal life and the authority to grant it. He entered the holy place once for all; He obtained eternal redemption through His blood. Forgive us our sins, O Lord, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, grant us reconciliation and life eternal. (Jn 6:68; Heb 9:12; 1 Jn 1:9).
Prayer for Sanctification
You have warned that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. O that we might not be arrogant or trust in the uncertainty of riches. We pray that we might be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, trusting in You, the God who provides us with everything we enjoy. (Mt 19:24-26; 1 Tim 6:17-19)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray, O Lord, that your church might never offer up “strange fire” to You, as did Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. O that we might worship and serve You only as You have authorized, that You might be sanctified by those who are near You, and glorified before all the people. O that we might distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and teach all that You command, and observe all that You require. (Lev. 10)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Father of mercies and God of all comforts, we pray for those who are afflicted and those who mourn, that their bodies might be healed and their souls blessed and comforted. Let those who share in Christ’s suffering share abundantly in comfort too. (2 Cor 1:3, 4)
Prayers for the Nation
Let the righteousness which exalts a nation abound among us. Deliver us from national sins which are a disgrace to any people. Grant us peace like a river and righteousness like the waves of the sea. (Prov 14:34; Is 48:18)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord we pray that we might hear Your call and serve You faithfully as Your ambassadors, at home and abroad, locally and around the world, representing You in this dark world, bringing the knowledge of Christ to the lost. Prosper the work of those who have answered that call and raise up from among us those who go to the ends of the earth heralding Your gospel. (2 Cor 5:20)
Prayer of Illumination
O that we might be attentive to Your words, O God, and incline our ears to your sayings; that they might not escape from our sight, that we might treasure them in our hearts, that we might find in them life and healing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Prov 4:20-22)

Pastoral Prayer #39
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, You have so loved the world that You sent Your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16).
– Confession
Yet we have presumed upon Your love. We have sinned against You even as Your privileged people. We have sinned against the light of Your word, the righteousness of Your law, and Your love in the gospel. We have resisted, grieved, and quenched Your Spirit, silenced the accusations of conscious, ignored the light of nature, and despised the voice of wisdom (Acts 7:51; Eph 4 :30; 1 Thess 5:19; Rom 2:14; Ps 19:1; Jas 3:17).
– Pardon
We plead for Your mercy, not by looking to ourselves, but to Jesus, He alone has the words of eternal life and the authority to grant it. He entered the holy place once for all; He obtained eternal redemption through His blood. Forgive us our sins, O Lord, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, grant us reconciliation and life eternal. (Jn 6:68; Heb 9:12; 1 Jn 1:9).
Prayer for Sanctification
You have warned that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. O that we might not be arrogant or trust in the uncertainty of riches. We pray that we might be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, trusting in You, the God who provides us with everything we enjoy. (Mt 19:24-26; 1 Tim 6:17-19)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray, O Lord, that your church might never offer up “strange fire” to You, as did Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. O that we might worship and serve You only as You have authorized, that You might be sanctified by those who are near You, and glorified before all the people. O that we might distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and teach all that You command, and observe all that You require. (Lev. 10)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Father of mercies and God of all comforts, we pray for those who are afflicted and those who mourn, that their bodies might be healed and their souls blessed and comforted. Let those who share in Christ’s suffering share abundantly in comfort too. (2 Cor 1:3, 4)
Prayers for the Nation
Let the righteousness which exalts a nation abound among us. Deliver us from national sins which are a disgrace to any people. Grant us peace like a river and righteousness like the waves of the sea. (Prov 14:34; Is 48:18)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord we pray that we might hear Your call and serve You faithfully as Your ambassadors, at home and abroad, locally and around the world, representing You in this dark world, bringing the knowledge of Christ to the lost. Prosper the work of those who have answered that call and raise up from among us those who go to the ends of the earth heralding Your gospel. (2 Cor 5:20)
Prayer of Illumination
O that we might be attentive to Your words, O God, and incline our ears to your sayings; that they might not escape from our sight, that we might treasure them in our hearts, that we might find in them life and healing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Prov 4:20-22)

Pastoral Prayer #40
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We come to You, O Lord, confident of the gospel promise that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom 10:9).
– Confession
We confess to You, Lord God, that we have not sought first Your kingdom and its righteousness; we have failed to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow You; we have not lost our lives that we might find them/ we have not crucified the flesh and its lusts; or hungered and thirsted after righteousness. We confess that we are compromised, lukewarm, divided, and indifferent. (Mt 6:33; 16:24,25; Gal 2:20; 5:24; Mt 5:6)
– Pardon
We acknowledge, O Lord, that we cannot be justified by the works of the law; we cannot be forgiven, reconciled, and accepted by our good deeds, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. We look to Jesus; we look to the cross; we look to His death and resurrection; we place our trust in Him, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by our works. We confess as we do the futility of salvation by our good deeds; we confess the worthlessness of the labor of our hands. We forsake morality and religion; we forsake humanly devised ritual and ceremony, since by them no one will be saved. We look only to Jesus, who loved us, and gave Himself for us (Gal 2:16-21).
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray, O Lord, that we might choose the good portion and sit with Mary at Jesus’ feet and listen to His teaching. We pray that we might not be distracted like Martha, preoccupied with worldly concerns. We pray that we might not unnecessarily consume time and energy with making good impressions; with ensuring the positive opinions of others; with cultivating a favorable reputation in the world, to the neglect of the well-being of our souls. O that we might be devoted to prayer, and hunger for Your word more than our necessary food. O that we might thirst for You as the deer that pants for the water brook (Lk 10:38-42; Acts 2:42; Col 4:2; Job 23:12; Ps 42:1).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
In these troubling times of growing hostility to the Christian message, raise up leaders for Your church who might be clothed with the Spirit like Gideon, courageous like Deborah, a mother in Israel, mighty warriors like Gideon and Jephthah, and strong like Samson (Jd 6:34; 5:7; 6:11ff, 11:11; 13:24ff).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
O Lord, our broken bodies need mending, our sad hearts need comfort, and our troubled souls need healing. Father of mercies and God of all comforts, restore the health of Your troubled people. (2 Cor. 1:3, 4)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray, O Lord, that You might spare our nation and our church in this time of religious ignorance, of idolatry and false religion, of corrupt clergy and of superstition. O that we might not be like Israel in the time of the judges, when everyone did what was right in his own eyes. O that we might be a righteous and just nation, peace-loving and devoted to the true God [the maker of the heavens and the earth, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit].
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
Lord God, we pray that You might build Your gospel kingdom. Enlarge the place of our tent and expand the curtain of our dwelling. Make us bold to lengthen our cords even as we strengthen our stakes. O that Your disciples might possess the nations. We pray that from the rising of the sun to its setting that Your name might be great among the nations. (Is 54:2; Mal 1:11)
Prayer of Illumination
The word of Your grace is able to build us up and give us the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Open to our understanding, we pray, the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:32, 37)

Pastoral Prayer #41
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
Splendid and majestic are Your works, O Lord, and Your righteousness endures forever. You are gracious and compassionate, and the works of Your hands are truth and justice. All Your precepts are sure; they are performed in truth and uprightness. Holy and awesome is Your name. (Ps. 111:3, 4, 7-9).
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that we have closed our ears to Your word, our eyes to Your light, and our hearts to Your love. We have ignored Your counsel, Your promises, and Your warnings. We have walked in darkness, are weighed down by iniquity, burdened by guilt, afflicted by unbelief, plagued by ingratitude.
– Pardon
Lord Jesus Christ, light of the world, deliver us from our darkness. Grant us redemption through your blood. Grant us the light of life; deliver us from condemnation and bondage. O that we might know the truth of your gospel, the truth that makes us free. We pray that we might so abide in Your word and keep Your word that we might not see death through the One who is the Resurrection and the Life. (Jn 8:12-38; 11:25-26)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray, O Lord, for growth in grace. Sanctify to us all our losses, crosses, afflictions, and disappointments. Impart your joy as we submit to Your will in all circumstances. Let us say that it is good for us to be afflicted, that we might learn Your statues, that we might keep Your word, that we might participate more fully in Your holiness (Ps 119:71; 67; Heb 12:10).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
Use us, O Lord, to draw the unbelieving world into Your family. O that multitudes might forsake the world and say to Your church as Ruth did, “Your people shall be my people and Your God, my God.” We pray that the unbelieving might find refuge under the wings of the God of Israel. Use us to spread Your gospel mercies to our community (Ruth 1:16,17).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
You are the God who “comforts the downcast.” Some here today are discouraged, even despairing; others are unwell at home; some are in the hospital. Bring, we pray, healing and hope, repair and recovery, restoration and renewal to all the afflicted (2 Cor 7:6).
Prayers for the Nation
We pray, O Lord, that the fate of Babylon might not overtake our country. Let it not be said fallen, fallen is our once great nation, fallen because of our idolatry, fallen because of our moral degradation, fallen because of our pride and arrogance; (our military enfeebled, our honor shattered). O Lord, bring repentance and revival, not destruction. Send Your Holy Spirit and raise up mighty preachers and restore Your gospel kingdom in our land. O that our nation might not forsake the living God and trust in created things for its well-being, for its safety, for its prosperity, for its happiness. (Is 21:1-10)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
Fulfill Isaiah’s vision that nations might come to the light of your gospel kingdom and kings to the brightness of its rising. We pray that the wealth of the nations might come to Your kingdom O Christ, and with it Your praises O God. (Is 60:1-3)
Prayer of Illumination
Let Your word reprove, rebuke, and exhort us. Let us not be among those who will not endure sound doctrine. Let us not with itchy ears accumulate for ourselves teachers who suit our own passions and turn away from the truth and wander off into myths. Rather teach, instruct, and direct us now through the reading and preaching of Your word (2 Tim. 4:2-4).

Pastoral Prayer #42
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We remember, O Lord, how Jesus felt love for the rich young ruler, despite the youth’s confusion and turmoil. We pray that You might extend Your sympathy to us this day. If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O LORD, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. (Ps 130:3,4; Mk 10:21)
– Confession
We confess our willfulness and rebellion. We confess our determination to have our own way. The spirit of defiance lingers within us. We have resented Your law and its restrictions; we have resisted Your will and the limits it imposes. We have regarded Your commandments as burdensome and Your yoke as hard and unpleasant. We have rejected the paths of righteousness and insisted on forging paths of our own.
– Pardon
O Lord, You have so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son. You’ve promised that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. We pray that we might be saved; that we might not be judged; that we might escape condemnation with the world; that we might escape the darkness of this evil world through the name of the only Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ; O that we might come into His light of truth and be saved. (Jn 3:16-21)
Prayer for Sanctification
We give thanks to You, Lord God, for the good laws that You have given to us; for Your Ten Commandments, for their spiritual, holy, and righteous instruction, kindly given to us, Your redeemed people. We pray that we might not serve other gods, or bow down to idols, or abuse Your name, or desecrate Your Sabbath, or dishonor our fathers and mothers. O that we might not indulge murderous anger or adulterous lust; we pray that we might not steal or lie or covet. You have given us not the commandments of men, but Your own, written with your own finger on tablets of stone. Grant us, O Lord, such a mind as always to love, fear, and obey all Your commandments (Deut. 5:1-29).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We confess our inadequacy to do any gospel good in the world. Our sufficiency is from Christ. He alone makes us competent to be ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter that kills, but of the Spirit that gives life, not of condemnation but of righteousness. Use us that many might turn to You, O Lord, and be transformed by Your gospel into your glorious image (2 Cor 3:5,6).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We live, O Lord, in a broken world, so we pray for those with broken bodies, those with broken souls, those with broken emotions, those with broken relationships, and those with broken spirits. We pray for healing, repair, restoration, good health, and strength for all the afflicted. Bind up the brokenness of your people, and heal their wounds (Is 30:26)
Prayers for the Nation
We remember how in the days of Jeremiah the prophet You brought “an indictment against the nations” and made all the earth drink from the “cup of the wine of wrath.” Disaster went forth from nation to nation, “from one end of the earth to the other.” We pray, O Lord, that You might bring our nation to repentance for all of its evils. Bring revival and salvation to all of our people, that we might be spared Your wrath and our land might be to the praise of Your glory (Jer 25:15-33).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord we pray for Christian mission around the world; that we might fulfill the great commission to go and preach the gospel to all creation. Bless the work of those who proclaim Your word both at home and abroad, that many may believe and be baptized. Send us abroad, Lord Jesus, with the power of the Holy Spirit to accompany us, that the gospel message may be proclaimed with gospel power. (Mk 16:1-18)
Prayer of Illumination
As we open Your word, grant us shepherds after Your own heart who will lead us with knowledge and understanding, who will lead us to green pastures and still waters (Jer 3:15; Ps 23:2).

Pastoral Prayer #43
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord, You are good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. You are slow to anger and great in power, and yet, You are a God of justice who will by no means clear the guilty. (Nahum 1:2-8)
– Confession
We confess that we were conceived and born in sin; that we are sinners by nature and sinners in practice; by nature our hearts are deceitful and desperately sick; by nature there is no good thing in us; by nature we love the darkness and hate the light; by nature our minds are hostile towards you. In practice, we are not subject to your Law; in practice we disobey constantly in our thoughts, words, and deeds; and left to ourselves we cannot and will not please you. (Ps 51:5; Jer 17:9; Rom 7:18; Jn 3:19, 20; Rom 8:7, 8)
– Pardon
You are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You in Jesus’ name. O God of our salvation, deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake. We appeal to the trustworthy statement that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, even the foremost of all; that Christ died for the ungodly; for sinners; for the helpless; He reconciled enemies to You through His death. We cling to Your promise, O God, that having been justified by His blood we shall be saved from Your wrath through Him. (Ps 79:9; 86:5; 1 Tim 1:15; Rom 5:6-10)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that You might keep us from tempting circumstances. Keep us from situations that might expose our weakness. Keep us from lusts that might overpower us, from trials that might undermine us, from success that might seduce us, from pride that might deceive us, all that we might better honor and serve You. (Luke 11:1-28)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
Fulfill Your promise to work through and for us. Though we are few in numbers, use us to bring about gospel victories. You are not constrained to save by many or by few. O that the armies of iniquity might flee before gospel power as they did before Jonathan and his armor bearer. Bless and multiply our ministry and use us to bring multitudes to Christ (1 Sam 14, 15).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
You, O God, have both the power and inclination to heal; You are both able and willing to cure our diseases and restore us to wholeness. You demonstrated your mercy towards our afflictions throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry. Extend that mercy once more by restoring the health and well-being of Your people (Mark 1:40-42)
Prayers for the Nation
Have compassion on our nation, O Lord. We pray that our fellow citizens might diligently seek to learn Your ways and call upon Your name and abandon their idols. Let us not be that nation which will not listen, of which you warned through Jeremiah the prophet, one that You will utterly pluck up and destroy. (Jer. 12:14-17)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We rejoice in anticipation of that day when the Christian mission shall be complete and death shall be swallowed up in victory; when death shall lose its sting. We thank You, O God, that You have given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. O that we might be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work O Lord, knowing that in You, O Lord, our labor is not in vain. Bless those who are taking Your gospel to the ends of the earth, and encourage them in their work. (1 Cor. 15:35-38)
Prayer of Illumination
You have given us the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. As we open Your word to read and expound, unsheathe Your spiritual sword, subdue Your enemies, and pierce our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord (Eph 6:17).

Pastoral Prayer #44
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You O Lord are our light and our salvation; whom shall we fear? You are the defense of our lives; whom shall we dread? (Ps 27:1)
– Confession
We confess we are weak and foolish, distracted and divided. We confess the darkness of our hearts. We’ve soiled our hands and polluted our minds; we’ve departed from Your path and corrupted our way. O Lord we know our spiritual peril; You have warned us hell; of the horrors of the lake of fire, of a furnace of fire; of that place of weeping and gnashing of teeth; where the worm never dies and the fire is not quenched; of pits of darkness, even of the black darkness of the outer darkness. (Mt 13:42, 50; 2 Pet 2:4,17; Rev 20:15)
– Pardon
Open our eyes to the issues of eternity. Turn us from darkness to light. Deliver us from the dominion of Satan to the kingdom of your beloved Son. Forgive our sins. Grant us an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Jesus, the friend of sinners (Acts 20:32, 26:18; Mt 11:19).
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray, O Lord, for wisdom and perseverance in a world in which all is vanity and striving after the wind. We pray that we might know the futility of pleasure, and the futility of labor, and the futility of possessions, and money, and fame. We pray that we might live so as to please You, O God, and be content with simple lives and simple things like eating and drinking and finding enjoyment in our work. Grant us true wisdom and knowledge and joy. (Eccl. 1, 2)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for the leadership of the church that we might faithfully follow You and obey Your commands. O that we might not be like Saul, who for fear of the displeasure of the people [or fear of their dwindling support] disobeyed your word. We pray that we might not settle for partial obedience; not leave bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle in Your ears; for You delight not in costly gifts but in obedience; O that we might learn the lesson that to obey is better than sacrifice. (1 Sam 15).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for those who have come to us today with broken bodies or broken hearts. We rejoice that in all our afflictions you are afflicted; that Jesus our great High Priest is able to sympathize with our weakness having been tempted in all ways as we have yet without sin. Let us then know your mercy and grace in our time of need (Is 63:9; Heb 4:16).
Prayers for the Nation
O Lord, restore our conscience and the conscience of the nation. Restore our sense of shame. Bring national repentance and revulsion. Turn us from our wickedness. Heal our sin sick soul. Revive our sense of right and wrong. Silence those who would call evil good and good evil. Restrain those who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; expose the unfruitful, disgraceful deeds of darkness. Raise up champions of purity, of holiness, of righteousness, of justice. Turn us from immorality, fornication, adultery, homosexuality. Turn us away from permissiveness and moral confusion. Turn us from abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and the culture of death. Rise up, O God, and vindicate Your holy law. God of the widow and orphan, protector of the fatherless, protect the unborn child and its mother. Make the womb again a place, above all places, of safety, a sacred place of nurture and growth (Is 5:20,21; Eph 5:11,12).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
You are not a tribal God or a local deity, but the true and living God, the sole creator, governor, and sustainer of all things. We pray that all nations, all peoples, and all lands might learn of Jesus, the Savior of the world, the only name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (John 4:42; Acts 4:12).
Prayer of Illumination
We pray that your word may “speed ahead and be honored,” let it have “free course” (KJV), accomplishing its work in us and among us (2 Thes 3:1).

Pastoral Prayer #45
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You, O Lord, have created us and formed us; You have redeemed us and called us by name; we are Yours and You assure us that we are precious in Your eyes. (Is 43:10,3)
– Confession
We confess that there are idols in our hearts that go unrecognized; there are false gods within us of which we are unaware; we confess that carnality is harbored and unacknowledged; that lusts are entertained and uncrucified; that weakness and foolishness is tolerated and excused. We have allowed ourselves to become complacent about sin.
– Pardon
We look to the Lord Jesus, who though He despised the shame of the cross, yet He endured it; who though His soul was deeply grieved to the point of death, yet was faithful; who though in agony He prayed fervently three times for the cup of death to pass from Him, even sweating what became like great drops of blood. Yet He submitted to death, that the Father’s will might be done; though distressed at the baptism He had to undergo, yet He accomplished our redemption. Redeem us, O Lord. Pardon our sins. Restore us to Yourself in Jesus’ name. Grant us peace like a river, and Your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (Heb 12:2; Mk 14:34; Lk 12:50; 22:43-44; Is 48:17).
Prayer for Sanctification
O Lord, You are opposed to the proud but give grace to the humble. O that we might cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. We pray that we might not flirt with the world or seek its favor. O that we might resist the devil and see him flee. O that we might mourn and weep for our sin and humble ourselves before You. (James 4:1-10)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that we might faithfully preach the whole truth of the whole Christ. Protect us from the temptation to be peddlers of Your Word, using disgraceful and manipulative rhetorical practices, tampering with Your Word, dressing it up or toning it down. Rather let us always be content with clear, open, unaltered statements of Your gospel truth (2 Cor 2:17, 4:2).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Bind up the brokenness of Your people and heal our wounds. Restore the health of the sick, mend the hearts of the mourning, and repair the bodies of those in disrepair (Is 30:26).
Prayers for the Nation
We remember how You raised up Pharaoh to show your power, so that your name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Raise up for us righteous leaders. Do not place over us leaders driven by selfish ambition, or leaders with oppressive methods of governing, or leaders who are untrustworthy or foolish. O that You might bless us with wise and just leaders in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. (Eze 9:16)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We give thanks that a wide door for effective service has opened here at home and around the world. We pray that Your word might spread rapidly and be glorified. O that Your gospel might come to lost individuals and nations not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction, that multitudes might be delivered from the wrath to come. (1 Cor 16:9; 2 Thess 3:1; 1 Thess 1:5, 10)
Prayer of Illumination
O Lord we pray that as we open Your word that we might enter wisdom’s house, and eat of her bread, and drink of her cup; that we might leave our foolish ways and live, and walk in the way of understanding. Grant us the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One which is insight (Prov 9:1-6).

Pastoral Prayer #46
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You are the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy; the heavens are your throne and earth your footstool; yet You promise to look with favor to the one that is poor and humble, of a broken and contrite spirit, who trembles at Your word. (Is 57:15; 66:2)
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens; we confess our shame, our corruption and guilt. We have drunk iniquity like water, without thought, without restraint or caution. (Ezra 9:6; Dan 9:8; Job 15:16)
– Pardon
We look to Christ our Passover, our unblemished lamb, who has been sacrificed for us. O that You might see His blood and pass over; spare us Your judgments and plagues. Forgive our sins; pardon our offenses. With a powerful hand deliver us from bondage. Bring us to a place flowing with spiritual milk and honey. Lead us through Your word as though by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Deliver us from the enemies of our souls. Show us Your great power, that we might fear and trust You. (1 Cor 5:7; Ex 13:2,5,21,22)
Prayer for Sanctification
Sanctify us in our domestic relationships. We pray for wives, that they might be submissive to their husbands, that they might be chaste and respectful in their behavior, winning even disobedient husbands without a word. We pray that the adornment of Christian women might not be merely external: [hair, jewelry, and dresses]; but rather the hidden person of the heart, the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. O that we might follow the pattern of the holy women of old, and of Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him Lord (1 Pt 3:1-6). Similarly, we pray for husbands, that they might love their wives with self-denying love and live with them in an understanding way, as with weaker vessels, granting them honor as fellow-heirs of the grace of life (1 Pt 3:7). We pray for children, that they might honor and obey their parents; we pray for singles, that they might give undistracted devotion to the cause of the gospel. (Eph 6:1-4; 1 Cor 7:35)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
Let us faithfully serve as Your ambassadors, imploring others on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to You, O God, through Him, who though He who knew no sin became sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor 5:20, 21)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray, O Lord, for the sick and sorrowing, the diseased and distressed, the afflicted and afraid. Heal, restore, comfort, and soothe the pains of your people, and restore our strength, health, and mobility.
Prayers for the Nation
We fear for our nation. Not only have our people exchanged the truth of God for a lie, worshiping the creature rather than the Creator, but we have exchanged the natural for the unnatural, normalizing and applauding dishonorable passions and shameless acts and despising created reality itself, the reality that you have made. Bring us back from the brink of our destruction. Do not abandon us to our sin (Rom 1:18-28).
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord, we are surrounded by a world of unbelief; it is the occasion of great sorrow and unceasing grief as with the Apostle Paul. It is our hearts’ desire and prayer that our lost neighbors might be saved. We pray for the reconciliation of the world. [Bring life from the dead.] Let the fullness of the Gentiles be brought to Christ and let all Israel be saved. O that You might show Your mercy to all and thereby demonstrate the depths of the riches of Your wisdom and knowledge. (Romans 9:1; 10:1; 11:15,26,32)
Prayer of Illumination
As we open Your word, we rejoice that You have not left us to our opinions, our own philosophies, our own self-made religions, but have spoken to us through Your prophets and apostles, and conclusively through Your Son, the word incarnate, even Christ Jesus our Lord (Heb 1:1,2).

Pastoral Prayer #47
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
We approach You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus, the friend of sinners, the friend who sticks closer than a brother, the Savior who laid down His life for His friends. (Mt 11:19; Prov 18:24; Jn 15:13)
– Confession
We confess that our idols have corrupted us and our lusts deceived us. Our souls have been poisoned by pride, blinded by self-righteousness, and hardened by hypocrisy. [Sin has spread like the plague in our hearts, and our transgressions have mounted up even to the heavens above.] You, O Lord, have warned us of judgment and hell and the plight of unrepentant sinners, who [like the rich man] upon death will lift up their eyes, being in torment; who will beg that some Lazarus might dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off their tongues and relieve their agony in the flames; who will beg that loved ones and family might be warned lest they too end up in that place of torment; who will lament the great chasm that is fixed separating the righteous and the wicked, that none may cross. (Lk 16:19-31)
– Pardon
O that we might listen to Moses and the Prophets; that we might listen to Jesus and the Apostles; we repent of our sin and look to Jesus, the Savior of the world. We look only to His blood and righteousness; deliver us from that place of torment and let us know Your eternal comfort, O Lord. Grant us forgiveness. Grant us pardon. Grant us reconciliation with you our Maker. Grant us the gift of eternal life (Lk 16:19-31).
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that we might bring ourselves into perfect conformity with Your will; that we might pursue what You approve and flee what You forbid; that we might flourish within the boundaries of law and abhor what You condemn. O that we might love what You love and hate what You hate.
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that we might face the Goliaths of our day like David, boldly, bravely, confident in Your strength, and see our foes defeated. O that we might slay the Goliaths of unbelief, of skepticism, of false religion, of materialism, and of sensuality and see gospel victory throughout our region and to the ends of the earth. You deliver not by the sword or spear, for the battle is Yours, O Lord, for you are the Lord of hosts, the God of armies. (1 Sam 17:24-54)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for those who find themselves in a dark and weary land where there is no water, whose bodies are worn and whose souls are dry. Let water break forth in the wilderness and refresh them with streams in the desert. Heal the sick and restore their souls with living water. (Ps 63:1; Is 35:6; Jn 4:10)
Prayers for the Nation
We remember how in the days of the Exile You raised up a pagan, Cyrus, King of Persia, to encourage the work of Your kingdom, and another, Darius to continue that work, and still another, Artaxerxes to complete that work. Raise up for us political leaders who will favor not fight our Christian heritage, support not undermine the work of the gospel around the world, and who will wisely steward our nation’s influence and power. (Ezra 1-6)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray that the gospel might be preached to all peoples and all nations. You Yourself have asked through your Apostles, how shall they believe if they have not heard? How shall they hear without preachers? How
shall they preach unless they are sent? O that we might be a sending church. Raise up missionaries and ministers from among us, that those who walk in darkness might see a great light, in Jesus the light of the world. (Rom 10:14, 15; Is 9:2; Jn 8:12)
Prayer of Illumination
Jesus promised that not an iota or dot, not a “jot or tittle” (KJV) would pass away from the law and prophets until all that they require, promise, and warn is accomplished. Grant us through the illumination of the Spirit a right understanding and application of the truth of Scripture that we might believe all that you say, obey all that you command, and go wherever you send. (Mt 5:17-18)

Pastoral Prayer #48
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
Your glorious name, O Lord, is blessed and exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the Lord. [You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.] You give life to all and the heavenly host bows down before You (Neh 9:5, 6).
– Confession
We have sinned presumptuously and stiffened our necks and broken Your commandments. Repeatedly we have refused to obey and have sinned against You. We have been disobedient. We have been rebellious. Like Your ancient people we have cast Your law behind our backs and silenced Your word. We have turned a stubborn shoulder and neglected to keep Your word or pay attention to Your commandments or heed Your warnings (Neh 9:16ff).
– Pardon
You are a God who is ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. Save us according to Your great mercies. Receive as our sacrifice the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, shed for sinners for the remission of sin. Forgive us, O Lord. Pardon and cleanse us from all our sin. (Neh 9:17ff)
Prayer for Sanctification
O Lord, You delight in honesty and abhor cheating. We pray that we might be characterized by the humility of the wise, and not the dishonor of the proud; the integrity of the upright and not the falseness of the treacherous; the righteousness of the blameless and not the wickedness of the greedy. We pray that we might be the upright people by which a city is exalted; that we might know when to keep silent and when to conceal a matter; that we might seek guidance in an abundance of counselors. We pray that we might be steadfast in righteousness, eschew evil, walk blamelessly, desire only what is good, practice generosity, win souls, and flourish like the green leaf. (Prov 11)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray, O Lord, for the unity and peace of the church, let there not arise from within the church a scoundrel like Amnon or a usurper like Absalom or a traitor like the counselor Ahithophel or conspiracy, betrayal, division, and open conflict as plagued David’s reign. O that You might thwart the destructive purposes as those who are enemies of the gospel and preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (2 Sam 13-17; Eph 4:3)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
Fulfill your promise, O Lord, to keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on you, who trust in You. Grant peace to those who mourn, health to those who are sick, wholeness to those whose lives are shattered. (Is 22:3)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray that those who govern might rule righteously and in the fear of God. Let them have no part in unrighteousness, or partiality, or the taking of bribes. Raise up statesman and judges who are capable men of integrity, that justice might roll down like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (2 Sam 23:3; 2 Chr 19:6, 7; Ex 18:25; Am 5:24)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for global missions, remembering Your physical people, the Jews. We pray that the branches which were broken off might not continue in unbelief. Let them be grafted back into the patriarchal olive-tree. We pray that the fullness of the Gentiles might come in, so that the partial blindness that afflicts Israel might be lifted, and all Israel might be saved. (Rom 11:23-26)
Prayer of Illumination
As we open Your word, we do so in the confidence that though heaven and earth may pass away, Your words will not pass away. (Luke 21:33)

Pastoral Prayer #49
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
You, Lord, search the heart and test the mind and give to all according to their ways and according to the fruit of their deeds. (Jer 14:17)
– Confession
We confess that rightly we are under the curse of Your law. You have required us to abide by all things written in the law to perform them. This we have not done. We have not lived by Your law. We have not performed its requirements. We have broken Your commandments and violated Your rules. Our good works are incapable of giving us either life or righteousness. Religion and morality have left us in our sin, condemned and accursed. (Gal 3:10-12; 3:21,22)
– Pardon
We look to Jesus, whom You have publicly portrayed to us as crucified in the preaching of Your gospel. We put all our hope in Him who became a curse for us. Count our faith as righteousness; justify us by faith; bless us with our father Abraham, the man of faith; redeem us from the curse of the law; O that we might put on Christ Jesus; that we might be sons of God through faith in Him, even heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:1-13; Gal 3:26-29)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that we might not grow weary or fainthearted in our struggle against sin. Train our hands for spiritual war and our fingers for battle. Be our shield and our sword, our stronghold and our fortress, our rock and our deliverer. (Heb 12:3, 4; Ps 144:1; Ps 18:1, 2)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for wise leadership in the church. We pray that we would not repeat the folly of Solomon, who when he was old turned away his heart after other gods and was not wholly true to the Lord his God. Or the folly of Rehoboam who refused the counsel of men older and wise than he, who chose severity over kindness and moderation. Or the folly of Jeroboam for whom religion was a tool for self-promotion, and introduced false religion into Israel. O that You might raise up leaders like King Asa, who did right in Your eyes, O Lord, and whose heart was wholly true to You all his days (1 Kings 11:1-14; 12:6-15, 25-33; 15:14).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We pray for the afflicted, that like Jesus we might learn obedience through what we suffer. We are grateful that our pains are not without purpose. Yet we pray that you might deliver us from our sorrows and restore our health, wholeness, and mobility. (Heb 8:5)
Prayers for the Nation
You, Lord God, possess the nations; You stand in the midst of the politically powerful; You judge the judges and rule the rulers. You require that they judge justly and impartially; that they not favor the powerful but ensure equity for the weak and fatherless. Vindicate the destitute and needy. Prevent oppression by the wicked. O that we might see true justice and true equity in our land. (Ps. 82)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for the success of the Christian mission around the globe, especially in dark and difficult regions. We rejoice that in Christ all shall be made alive; that He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet; that even the last enemy, death, shall be destroyed, and the kingdom of Christ delivered up to the Father; that You, O God might be all in all. (1 Cor. 15:1-34)
Prayer of Illumination
Finally, we look now to the law and to the testimony, to the gospel, and the word of Your grace which is able to build us up and give usthe inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Is 8:20; Acts 20:32).

Pastoral Prayer #50
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord; We come now to the waters to drink and quench our spiritual thirst; we come without money and without price, to buy and eat and be satisfied. (Isa 55:1)
– Confession
We confess, O Lord, that we by nature are unrighteous and without understanding; we confess that we have not sought You as we ought but have turned instead to empty and vain things; time and again we have failed to do good; time and again we have deceived with our tongues. Time and again our lips have spewed poison and our hearts have been filled with bitterness. We have not sought Your peace as we ought, and we have not feared You as we ought. Our mouths closed; we are without explanation and without excuse, guilty and accountable to You alone, O God. (Rom 3:9-18)
– Pardon
We repent, O Lord, of our sin; we hate and forsake the lusts of our flesh and the idols of our hearts. We pray for mercy in Jesus; name; count our faith as righteousness; justify us as a gift of Your grace; redeem us through the propitiation in His blood. Grant us the free gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 3:24,25; 4:5; 6:23).
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that by the strength that You provide that we might set our mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are on earth; O that we might consider ourselves dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry; put aside all anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech; lay aside the old self with its evil practices; put on the new self, created in Your image, O God; put on a heart of compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:2,5-12)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
O Lord we pray that we, like Elijah, might be very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. Give us victory, as You gave Elijah victory over the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel; victory over false religion, materialism, hedonism, skepticism, and unbelief. Send the fire of Your Spirit down upon us and expose and discredit the world’s false prophets and manifest Your gospel truth through us. (1 Kings 17-19)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
You, O Lord, are a stronghold to the needy, a shelter from the storm, and a shade from the heat. Oh that you may be for us like streams of water in the dark place, bringing relief. recovery and refreshment to the languishing people. (Is 25:4; 32:2)
Prayers for the Nation
We pray, O Lord, that it might never be necessary for You to destroy our nation as You did the Philistines and Moabites and Ammonites and Edomites in the days of Jeremiah. Let Your sword of judgment remain in its scabbard. Send revival not ruin. Let the power of Your gospel be unleashed, converting the multitude of our countrymen. Let there be national repentance. Let there be national reconciliation to You, O God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Is 34; Jer 47)
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for the progress of Christian mission around the world. You have warned that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one will receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Knowing the fear of the Lord, knowing that judgment day is coming, we pray that we all might be urgent to persuade others We pray that risks might be taken and hazards endured and sacrifices made to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. O that we might walk by faith and not by sight, and so spread the message of the gospel that all might have hope [that to be absent from the body is to be present with You, O Lord; it is to have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens]. (2 Cor 5:1-11)
Prayer of Illumination
As we now open the Scriptures, the word of truth, the gospel, let it bear fruit and increase in our hearts, in this house of worship, andthroughout the whole world (Col 1:6).

Pastoral Prayer #51A
Christmas Season
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord our God, we give thanks that You sent a great light into a dark world. Your light shines upon us in Christ Jesus; He is the light of the world; He is the light of life; Jesus is the true light that enlightens all. (Is 9:2; Jn 8:12; Jn 1:4-9)
– Confession
We confess that by nature and inclination we have loved the darkness rather than the light; we have resisted coming to the light lest our deeds be exposed. We have hidden in the shadows, shielding our errors, falsehoods, and hypocrisy from Your light; we have resisted its illumination for our feet and its light for our path. We have floundered in the darkness, stumbling and falling along the broad way that leads to destruction. (Jn 3:19-21; Ps 119:105; Mt 7:13)
– Pardon
We look to Jesus to deliver us lest we perish; He came to save His people from their sin; He was born to be a Savior; He came that the world should be saved through Him; He was sent to be the propitiation for our sins and not only ours, but for the sins of the whole world. Save us in Jesus’ name; forgive our sin; redeem us; restore us; receive us into Your household and call us Your sons and daughters. (Mt 1:21; Lk 2:11; 1 Jn 4:9,10; 2:2)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that we might not only be saved but sanctified, made fit for Your use and prepared for good works. We pray that we might be like Zacharias and Elizabeth, “righteous in (Your) sight, walking blamelessly in all Your commandments and requirements;” that we might say with Mary, “be it done to (us) according to Your word;” that we might serve You like Anna, “night and day with fastings and prayer,” and telling all of the Redeemer; let us be filled with Your Holy Spirit. (2 Tim 2:21; Lk 1,2)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for the church, that our message might be a message of hope, our gospel might be a gospel of hope, our God the God of hope, our Jesus might be the hope of the world, and that hope might be the anchor of our souls. (Col 1:23; Rom 15:12; 1 Tim 1:1; Heb. 6:19)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
We recognize the sadness of sickness during the holidays. Heal those who are afflicted. Let their suffering be short-lived. We recognize as well the sadness of departed loved ones, of parents and children and siblings and spouses with whom we celebrated Christmas in the past and who are no longer with us. Let the joy of salvation overcome the sorrow of our memories.
Prayer for the Nation
At this time when the symbols of Christmas are everywhere, when the songs of Christmas resound throughout the land, when services are full, when the Scripture’s accounts of Christ’s birth are read, bring about a spiritual awakening; let the masses of our people be led to repentance and faith in Christ.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
We pray for Christmas celebrations throughout the world; let the gospel shine through the commercialism, the merchandizing, the decorations, the family gatherings, the feasting; let the gospel of Jesus Christ shine through saving and sanctifying multitudes.
Prayer for Illumination
As we open the Scriptures, let us accept is not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God. As the word has been at work in the lives of believers through the power of the Holy Spirit for 2000 years let your word be at work in us today (1 Thess. 2:13).

Pastoral Prayer #51B
Christmas Season
Prayer of Confession & Pardon
O Lord we come to you this Christmas season thankful for the “indescribable” Gift of Your Son, who in the fullness of time was sent forth from heaven; who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary; and who is the word made flesh, Immanuel, God with us; who came to save His people from their sins. (2 Cor 9:15; Gal 4:4; Mt 1:21; Is 7:14)
– Confession
We who need a Savior confess our sin; we confess our rebellion against Your lordship; we admit our transgression of Your law; we acknowledge even our indifference to Your gospel, our spiritual apathy, our indifference to eternal things, our defiance and disobedience, our idols and lusts.
– Pardon
Have mercy upon us. You have provided a High Priest, Jesus the Messiah, who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin; that is able to sympathize with our weakness; we look to Jesus that we might find mercy and grace in time of need. Forgive our sin, pardon our offenses, blot out our iniquities, cleanse us of all unrighteousness. We rejoice in your provision for our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord, who came into the world to save sinners like us; who came not to be, served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many. (Heb 4:15-16; 1 Jn 1:9; Tim 1:15; Mk 10:45)
Prayer for Sanctification
We pray that we might be among the wise men who still seek You; like the shepherds who made haste to go to Bethlehem that they might see Jesus; and like righteous and devout Simeon, who looked only to Jesus for salvation (Lk 2).
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray for the church: build it; preserve its peace, unity, and purity, that we might be one even as You are One. We pray for our ministry: that we might reach the poor & helpless; the cold, hungry, and oppressed; the sick, sorrowing, mournful; the outcasts, lonely and unloved; and all who do not know the Lord or have strayed far from Him. Use us to bring them to Christ, whose life is the light of life. O that His light might shine into the darkness of this world and the darkness not overcome it (Jn 17:11; 1:4).
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
The joyful time is also one in which sickness and sadness are common. Heal and restore those weakened by illness, and encourage those who struggle with melancholy memories.
Prayer for the Nation
We pray for the Christmas celebrations throughout our nation, as the gospel is read in your word, as the gospel is sung in the carols, as the gospel is proclaimed from pulpits, as the gospel is displayed in sacraments, as the gospel is heard in the prayers for forgiveness and help. Oh, that the good news of Jesus Christ might bear fruit in conversions and renewed consecrations.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
Let the Christmas celebrations spark revival here and around the globe. Bring a numberless multitude into your kingdom. Let the world know peace through the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ (Rev 7:9; Isa 9:6).
Prayer for Illumination
As we read again the biblical accounts of the birth of Christ, let not their familiarity breed disinterest or inattention, but let Your Holy Spirit illumine in us once more the wonder of the mystery of the incarnation.

Pastoral Prayer #52
New Year
Prayer of Confession and Pardon
O Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born, or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God (Ps 90:1,2).
We come to You at the beginning of this new year, grateful for Your faithfulness in the year past. You provided for us materially and especially spiritually, blessing us in Christ Jesus exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think; we are well fed, clothed, housed, and loved; we lack nothing; no good thing have you withheld. (Eph 3:20; Ps 84:11)
– Confession
We also come with regret for opportunities lost, idols indulged, relationships ruined, time wasted, principles compromised, resources squandered, and moral failure. We have sinned against Your law, light, and love.
– Pardon
O that You might forgive our sins; blot out our transgressions; cover our guilt; bury our sins in the depths of the sea; pardon our iniquities; lay our sin upon the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. As we anticipate the new year, we pray that You might restore the years that the locusts have eaten; revive Your work in the midst of the years; revive us again, show us Your lovingkindness and grant us Your salvation. (Mic 7:19; Jn 1:29; Joel 2:25; Hab 3:1; Ps 85:7)
Prayer for Sanctification
Guard our hearts from the love of money, the root of all sorts of evil, and the longing for it that has led some to wander away from the faith, and pierce themselves with many a pang. O that we might pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. (1 Tim 6:10, 11)
Prayer for the Church & Its Ministry
We pray that the mantle of Elijah and a double portion of his spirit might be upon us. Raise up bold Elishas to proclaim Your word fearlessly even in the corridors of power. Use us to heal those sick with sin, raise the spiritually dead to life, and to feed hungry souls Your word. (2 Kings 2-5)
Prayer for the Sick & Needy
You declare Yourself to be the Lord our healer. Oh, heal our afflictions, cure our diseases, repair our broken bodies, restore our failing minds, and preserve us healthy and whole (Ex 15:26).
Prayer for the Nation
When we consider the trajectory of the past many decades, the persistent spiritual and moral decline evident in every aspect of our public life, We pray at the head of the new year for your gracious gospel intervention.
Prayer for Christian Mission & Hope
O Lord we pray for Christian mission around the world, that we Your servants will be both faithful and fruitful in our commission, here at home and abroad. Usher in that day when the kingdoms of this world will have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (Rev 11:15).
Prayer for Illumination
As we open Your word, we do so in the confidence that heaven and earth will pass away, but Your words will not pass away. (Luke 21:33)