Leading a Seven Day Prayer Emphasis
I was asked to lead a prayer weekend for a congregation desiring to become prayer-driven. I was asked to prepare a prayer guide for the entire church family that would help each persona and ministry prepare for the weekend emphasis.
Every pastor who gets serious about becoming an Acts 6:4 pastor must go beyond growing in prayer in their personal life; they must champion a life of prayer across the entire congregation.
You are welcome to use this guide or improve it (if you revise it, please comment here as to what you added or how you approached this differently, so we can all benefit from your insights).
Phil
Becoming a House of Prayer: Prayer Guide
Preparing to Pray
- Take a Bible with you so that you can pray according to God’s Word
(1 John 5:14-15).
- Pray in faith (James 5:15).
- Be persistent in prayer; never give up (Luke 18:1).
- Come boldly into the throne room of God’s presence, seeking His grace
(Hebrews 4:16).
- Pray in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:23-24).
- Believe that God will hear you (1 Peter 3:12).
- Engage in spiritual warfare; put on the full armor of God in prayer (Ephesians 6:12-17).
- Trust in Jesus’ power and victory over Satan (1 John 4:4).
- Purge yourself of uncleanness and unforgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35,
Mark 11:25).
Sunday: Praying for our Church
- Pray that our Senior Pastor, Ministers, and Church Staff will spend time daily with God in His Word, seeking His face and worshiping Him to renew their mind with the mind of Christ (Romans 12:2).
- Pray that our church leaders; small group leaders, deacons, program leaders etc. will seek the Lord continually and have the courage to follow His vision for our church, specifically God’s plan to reach out to our community and the world with the Gospel of Christ (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
- Pray for godly unity in the church and peaceful relationships (Ephesians 4:3)
- Pray that our church will acknowledge, receive and use their God-given gifts, abilities, and talents for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
- Pray for the witness of our church, that our neighbors, co-workers and friends will be drawn by our Christian lifestyle to the truth of the Gospel and into a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:15).
Monday: Praying for our Families
- Pray for our families to experience God-centered relationships among family members (Genesis 28:14).
- Pray that our parents will boldly instruct their children in biblical values and spend time with their children in Bible reading and prayer; that the hearts of the parents will turn to their children (Ephesians 6:4).
- Pray that our children will learn obedience to parents so they will in turn obey God, their Heavenly Father; that the hearts of the children will turn to their parents (Mark 10:14; Psalm 144:12).
- Pray for an extra measure of God’s strength, grace and protection for our single parents; especially that God would provide for all their needs (Psalm 5:11).
Tuesday: Praying for our Schools
- Pray that our school administrators will exercise their authority with wisdom, fairness and justice (Proverbs 2:6).
- Pray that our teachers will demonstrate love to students, even in difficult situations (1 Corinthians 13:4).
- Pray that our support staff members will carry out their responsibilities with love and care, recognizing the highest interest is the well-being of the children (Proverbs 16:3).
- Pray that our students will learn at their God-given potential, gaining wisdom and knowledge for life (Proverbs 4:7).
- Pray especially for our Christian administrators, teachers, and students, that they always demonstrate Christ-likeness and that God would use their witness to draw people to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Wednesday: Praying for our Community Leaders
- Pray that our mayor and city administrators will do what is right and honorable for our community (Matthew 5:14).
- Pray for our judicial system, that judges, attorneys and juries will reflect God’s love and justice and that truth prevail in court decisions (Micah 6:8).
- Pray that our city and county council and board members would seek God’s counsel as they make decisions regarding what is best for our communities (Proverbs 3:5-6).
- Pray that our police, firefighters, and emergency personnel will be kept safe, protected from evil and able to carry out their responsibilities with courage, competence and integrity (Proverbs 10:9).
Thursday: Praying for the Poor, Needy and Outcasts
- Pray for God to raise awareness within the church for the cause of those who are suffering (Micah 6:8).
- Pray for God’s care and protection among those who suffer for the name of Christ in hostile nations (1 Peter 1:6-7).
- Pray for God to establish the poor so that their physical and spiritual needs are met with dignity and stability (Psalm 140:12).
- Pray for the cause of orphans and widows, asking God to meet their physical, emotional and spiritual needs (Jeremiah 49:11).
- Pray for love to be shown to those in prison and for prison ministries to be able to reach prisoners with the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Psalm 69:32-33).
- Pray for those who are suffering with mental, emotional and physical illnesses; asking God to use their plight for their greater good and His glory; believing still that God would heal them for His glory (Isaiah 14:3, 40:31 and Jeremiah 17:14).
Friday: Praying for the Spiritually Lost
- Pray for spiritually lost family members, those whom you love and care deeply for to turn to Christ for salvation; pray for specific people who need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38-39).
- Pray for neighbors, co-workers and friends; that they will seek and find God: lift up their names to the Lord (Acts 8:26-39).
- Pray for the churches of our community to be filled with people hungry for the power of Jesus living in them and for the churches to preach and disciple people faithfully, for our churches to meet the real needs of the people in our community (Acts 17:16-34).
Saturday: Praying for Ourselves
- Pray that you would seek God with greater passion; that you would be faithful to God in spending time daily in His Word and in prayer.
- Pray that God would cleanse you from all known sin, and reveal to you those things that are hindering your closeness with Him.
- Pray that you would live in reconciled relationships, forgiving those who have wronged you and seeking forgiveness from those you have wronged.
- Pray that you would be holy and pure before the Lord.
- Pray that you would live your life for God’s glory alone.
- Pray that you would surrender to God’s direction in your life.
- Pray that you would witness for Christ with great boldness and love.
- Pray that you would always maintain a humble and teachable spirit.
- Pray that you would honor God with your time, talent and treasure.
Collated by Pastor Jonathan Peters, First Baptist Church Columbia, IL
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