A Month of Prayers for Your Church
E.M. Swank

 

1. Pastor – Lord, I lift up my pastor to You. Thank You  for his servant’s heart. Keep him from losing heart when  ministry gets tough. Help him prove faithful with the  things you have entrusted to him. Teach him Your ways so  that he knows You and finds favor with You as He leads  us. Keep him open and honest before You and help him to  represent the truth plainly. (2 Cor. 4:1; 1 Cor. 4:1-3  Ex. 33:13)

2. Elders – Lord, I lift up my elders (church board) to  You. Help us respect and honor them as they direct the  affairs of our church. May they wholeheartedly give  their attention to prayer and ministry of the Word. Keep  them above reproach, devoted to their families,  temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable and  able to teach. May they be gentle and honest as they  deal with people. (1 Tim. 5:17; Acts 6:4; 1 Tim. 3:1-2;  Titus 1:7)

 

3. Deacons – Lord, I lift up my deacons to You. May they  walk worthy of respect with sincere hearts. Keep them  from indulgence and greed. Help them keep hold of truth.  May they keep short accounts with You so that their  conscience is clear. Bless their households with peace  and respect. Fill them with Your Spirit and let them  operate in wisdom as they carry out their  responsibilities. (1 Tim. 3:8-9, 12; Acts 6:3)

4. Adults – Lord, I lift up the adults in my  congregation to You. May we live worthy of Your call on
our lives. As we respond to that call, fulfill every  purpose, every  faith-filled act of service by Your power. May we be  clothed in righteousness with hearts that sing for joy  and delight greatly in You. We want to walk with You,  Jesus, dressed in white, adorned with jewels. (Eph. 4:1;  2 Thes. 1:11; Ps. 132:9; Isa. 61:10; Rev. 3:4)

5. Children/Youth – Lord, I lift up the children and  youth in my congregation to You. May the little ones
remain humble examples of what we adults need to become  in the kingdom. Let their conduct always be pure and  right with reputations that show that they remember You,  Creator God. Teach them to declare Your marvelous deeds.  May they flee evil desires and pursue righteousness,  faith, love and peace. (Matt 18:3-4; Prov. 20:11; Eccl.  12:1; Ps. 71:17; 2 Tim. 2:22)

6. Seniors – Lord, I lift up the senior members of our  congregation. Thank You for every gray hair attained by  righteous living. We are blessed by their example and  ability to train us. Help us to be humbly submissive as  we benefit from their wisdom and understanding. Help  them receive the strength and power You’ve promised to  the weary and weak. May they put their hope in You and  be renewed in the process. (Prov. 16:31; Titus 2:4; 1  Pet. 5:5; Job 12:12; Isa. 40:29, 31)

7. Lost Among Us – Lord, I lift up the lost members of  our congregation. Let the gospel be presented to them  not only through the sermon but also with power, the  Holy Spirit and deep conviction. Teach us to make the  most of every opportunity to share Your salvation. Help  us to be the fragrance of Christ to them. We stand  against the enemy and his attempts to keep them blinded  to Your truth. (1 Thes. 1:5; Col. 4:5; 2 Cor. 2:15; 2  Cor. 4:4)

8. Worship Leaders – Lord, I lift up our worship  leaders. Appoint people to this position who understand
the splendor of Your holiness and praise You out of that  understanding. Help them lead us faithfully in thanks  for Your enduring love. Use their praise to defeat the  enemy. May they be the true worshipers You are looking  for who worship in spirit and in truth. Let them glory  only in You, Jesus, so that they put no confidence in  their own flesh. (2 Chron. 20:21-22; Jn. 4:23-24; Phil.  3:3)

9. Speakers/Teachers – Lord, I lift up the speakers and  teachers in our church. May everyone who holds that  position—pastors, Sunday school teachers, small group  leaders, guest speakers – rightly divide Your word of  truth. Let them admonish and teach with wisdom. Reveal  the mysteries of Your word to them and encourage them to  speak those mysteries courageously and fearlessly. Let  them speak with a spirit of faith that springs from  their relationship with You. (2 Tim. 2:15; Col. 1:28;  Dan. 2:47; Phil. 1:14; 2 Cor. 4:13)

10. Women’s Ministry – Lord, I lift up our Women’s  Ministry. Encourage our older women to train the younger  in family issues. Teach our women to be virtuous—women  with gentle and quiet spirits who put their hope in You.  Let this ministry produce women who feel Your passion  for them and who choose to spend time at Your feet.  Train them to contend for the gospel side by side with  the men. (Titus 2:4, 5; Pro. 31:10; 1 Pet. 3:4, 5; Ps.  45:11; Lk. 10:38-42; Phil. 4:3)

11. Men’s Ministry – Lord, I lift up our Men’s Ministry  to You. Use this ministry to build our men in their
faith. Teach them to be in right relationship to You and  each other, to love their wives sacrificially and to  instruct their children with patience. Encourage them to  hold each other accountable as they carry each other’s  burdens. May they speak the truth in love to each other  even when it’s hard. (Jude 1:20; Titus 2:2; 1 Tim. 5:1;  Eph. 5:25, 6:4; Gal. 6:2; Eph. 4:15; Prov. 27:6)

12. Youth Workers – Lord, I lift up our Youth Workers.  Let these young men and women set an example in their  speech, life, love, faith and purity. Cause them to be  strong, alive-in-the-Word overcomers. Help them to have  discernment as they deal with the young people in our  church. Help them to notice any youth who lacks judgment  so they can teach them to value Your life-giving  principles. Pour out Your Spirit on them. (1 Tim. 4:12;  1 Jn 2:14; Prov. 3:21, 7:7; 7:2; Joel 2:28).

13. Behind-the-Scenes Workers – Lord, I lift up the  people who work behind the scenes at our church. Thank  You for every nursery worker, parking lot attendant,  office volunteer, building janitor, etc. who has devoted  themselves to the service of the saints. Bless them for  the obedience and generosity they have displayed – may  You receive praise as a result! Keep them in an attitude  of humility that comes from wisdom and wholehearted  service to You rather than to be noticed by others. (1  Cor. 16:15; 2 Cor. 9:12-13; Jas. 3:13; Eph. 6:7)

14. Children’s Ministries – Lord, I lift up our  children’s ministries to You. Create an atmosphere here
that encourages our children to find You. Let the  teachers be careful to remind each child of the  marvelous things You have done. Cause everything they  learn about You to become a part of them forever. May  they consistently choose life and blessing each day  because of the training they receive in our church. Keep  them walking in the truth. (Mk 10:14; Dt. 4:9; 29:29;  30:19; Prov 22:6; 3 Jn 1:4)

15. Prayer Focus – Lord, I lift up the prayer focus in  my church. Make us into a house of prayer. We desire to  be clear-minded and self-controlled so that we can pray  first, always, continually and thankfully. May everyone  recognize that this is Your desire for all and not just  a few. Use us to stand in the gap for others. Let there  be prayer ministry among us that is powerful and  effective. (Mk. 11:17; 1 Pet. 4:7; 1 Tim. 2:1; Eph.  6:18; 1 Thes. 5:17; Phil. 4:6; Ps. 32:6; Ezk. 22:30;  Jas. 5:16)

16. Spiritual Level – Lord, I lift up the spiritual  temperature of my church. Revive us! Refine us so that
we bum hot for You. Give us singleness of heart and  action so that we always fear You and follow Your
precepts. Pour out a spirit of Josiah on us so that we  turn to You heart, soul and strength. Open our minds to  understand Your Word so that our hearts burn within us.  (Ps. 85:6; Rev. 3:14-18; Jer. 32:39; Ps. 111:10; 2 Ki.  23:25; Lk. 24:45, 32)

17. Spirit-Led-Lord, I lift up the issue of our  willingness to be led by Your Spirit. Holy Spirit, show
us any way we are grieving, quenching or resisting You.  Convict us and lead us to level ground. Help us keep in  step with You as we live by You. Reign in us so that- e  experience Your freedom. Lead us into grace, life and  peace. (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thes. 5:19; Acts 7:51; Jn. 16:8;  Ps. 143:10; Gal. 5:25; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal 5:18; Ro. 8:6)

18. Spiritual Gifts – Lord, I lift up the use of  spiritual gifts in our church. We eagerly desire  spiritual gifts that You’ve given for our common good.  Help us understand the various gifts and how they work.  Teach us to use what we’ve received to serve others and  faithfully administer Your grace—whatever form that
takes. Help us exercise our gifts in love. Remind us to  keep fanning into flame the gifts You’ve entrusted to
us. (1 Cor. 14:1, 12:4-7;1 Pet. 4:10; 2 Tim. 1:6)

19. Love/Unity – Lord, I lift up our love for one  another as a body. Help us purify ourselves by obeying
the truth so that our love for each other will be  sincere, deep and from the heart. May our love for one
another prove that we are Your disciples. Give us a  spirit of unity so that we may glorify You with one
heart and voice. Help us accept one another as we clothe  ourselves in love. (1 Pet. 1:22; Jn. 13:34-35; Ro.
15:5-7; Col. 3:14)

20. Finances – Lord, I lift up our church finances. May  we sow generously into our church without reluctance or  compulsion. Make all grace abound so we have all we need for every good work You’ve assigned us. Make us rich in  ways that result in generosity on our part so You will  be praised. Keep reminding us of your promise to throw  open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessing on  all who bring the whole tithe into Your house. (2 Cor.  9:6-11; Mal. 3:10)

21. Outreach/Missions Projects – Lord, I lift up our  outreach programs. Remind us to do good and share with  others as a pleasing sacrifice to You. Keep us outwardly  focused so we don’t become self-absorbed. Help us teach  one another to be faithful ministers of Your Son. Enable  us to meet people wherever they have a need. Help us  minister faithfully as we proclaim the gospel so that  the ones we reach might become an acceptable offering to  You. (Heb. 13:16; Phil. 2:4; Col. 1:7; Jude 1:23)

22. Single parents – Lord, I lift up the single parents  in our church. May they know You as father to the
fatherless and defender of widows! Let us be a real  family to them when they are lonely. Show us ways to
include them and minister grace to them. Stir up  practical ideas in us that show Your love and care. Help
them relax in Your grace and provision which is more  than enough for every weakness and need. (Ps. 68:5, 6;  25:16; Matt. 25:35-40; 2 Cor. 12:9; Phil. 4:19)  23. Help for the Hurting – Lord, I lift up those who are
hurting right now. May they come to know You as El Roi,  the God who sees them. For every situation of rejection,  help them feel sonship. Bind up the brokenhearted! In  every area of bondage, set the captives free; in every  case of mourning, replace it with Your oil of gladness.  Comfort them so that they will have a ministry of  comfort to others. (Gen. 16:13; Ro. 8:15; Isa. 61:1-3; 2  Cor. 1:3-4)

24. Freedom from besetting sins – Lord, I lift up every  one of us who struggle with sin issues. Keep us from the  enemy’s scheme of condemnation. Grant us repentance so  that we can escape the trap of the evil one. Thank You  that sin was done away with on the cross and that we are  no longer slaves to it. Help us to throw off everything  that entangles—help us run the race with perseverance.  (Ro. 8:1; 2 Tim. 2:25, 26; Ro. 6:6; Heb. 12:1)

25. Kingdom focus/priorities – Lord, I lift up our  priorities as a congregation. Give us ears to hear what
Your Spirit is saying to our church. Open our eyes to  see things as You see them. Help us move beyond issues  of immediate need to pursuing Kingdom issues. Bring us  to a place where “Your kingdom come, Your will be done  on earth as it is in heaven” is more than just words we  say. (Rev. 3: 22; 2 Ki. 6:17; Matt. 6:25, 33,10)

26. Growth through evangelism – Lord, I lift up our  church growth to You. Add to our number daily through  new converts. Birth spiritual children through us. Let  our actions win people over without words. Use us as  Your agents to rescue people from darkness and bring  them into Your Son’s kingdom. We long to be worthy  ambassadors in this ministry You have entrusted to us:  that of proclaiming Your message of reconciliation to a  lost world. (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 4:15; 1 Pet. 3:1-2; Col.  1:13; 2 Cor 5:20)

27. Our neighborhood – Lord, I lift up our community,  especially the surrounding neighborhood. Let us love  these people as we love ourselves. May our concern for  their needs override other things that take our time and  focus. Rebuild and restore areas that have been  devastated. Renew our community—send Your peace and  prosperity into this place where You’ve planted us.  Bless each individual home and family. Build each house  from the inside out; watch over our city. (Gal. 5:14;  Prov. 3:28; Isa. 61:4; Jer. 29:7; Lk 10:5-6; Ps. 127:1)

28. Connectivity with the Church in our city – Lord, I  lift up the Church in our city. Thank You for creating
the body as one unit made up of many parts. Help us  understand the value of each part as You have arranged  them. We confess that we’ve minimized other parts.  Forgive us, for we are all baptized by one Spirit into  one body. Help us to work at being one: concerned about  one another—suffering with and rejoicing with  other-congregations as appropriate. (1 Cor. 12:12-26)

29. Connectivity with the Church in our nation – Lord, I  lift up the Church in our nation. We humbly unite and  confess as one people-one Church called by Your  name—that we have sinned. We’ve operated out of acquired  wealth thinking we could do it on our own—but we are  wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. We seek Your  face, 0 God! Thank You for hearing and forgiving us. We  wait on You for the healing of our land! (2 Chron. 7:14;  Rev. 3:17)

30. Connectivity with the Church around the world –  Lord, I lift up the Church universal. Father, we claim
the power of Your name over us so that we will be one,  as You and Your Son are one. We want Your joy in full  measure just as Your Son, Jesus, prayed for us. Help us  live as though we are not of this world; sanctify us by  Your word. May we be brought to complete unity so that  the world will know the truth of the gospel. (Jn.  17:11-23)

31. Protection from the Enemy – Lord, I lift up our need  for protection. Protect and deliver us from the evil
one. Help us be as wise as serpents and as innocent as  doves as we deal with the wolves around us. Show us how  to test every spirit to see if they are from You. Help  us recognize the enemy’s disguises and schemes so that  he won’t outwit us. (Jn. 17:15; Matt. 6:13; Matt. 10:14;  1 Jn.. 4:1; 2 Cor. 11:14; 2:11)

The above article, “A Month of Prayers for Your Church” is written by E.M. Swank. The article was excerpted from  www.wnop.org website, where it was published in June of  2007.

The material is most likely copyrighted and should not  be reprinted under any other name or author. However,  this material may be freely used for persona study or  research purposes.