Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #21

Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks #21

Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. We're so thankful for this privilege of meeting together as your people to worship and honor you. We're encouraged and strengthened as we sing and pray together and as we hear the message from your Word we're challenged in our walk with you. We need to hear from you today and we need to be drawn closer to you. We're all needy people and we earnestly seek your will and your way. We want to live lives of holiness and purity and that's why we're here today. We need you, Lord, and we must feel your presence near us not only he re in church on Sunday, but out there in our everyday lives, because we're the church every day.

We're still the church in our homes and when we're doing our business, in the classroom and in the factory. We want to portray the spirit of Christ every day. Meeting together here every week gives help to make it through the days ahead.

And now, Lord, as you look down inside of each of us today we know that you see all the things that are there that no one else can see, and as we each reach out to you we know that you're already reaching out to us. We pray for forgiveness for those that have failed you. We pray for encouragement and uplift for those that are discouraged. We pray for comfort for those that are sorrowing and sad. We pray for physical healing and restoration for those with sickness and problems. Lord, we're all different but we all need the assurance of your loving presence. Thank you that you're always there and we can dep end on you.

We pray again today for our country, for our president and his cabinet and advisors. Please give them wisdom and insight that can come only from you. We pray for the men and women of the congress. Many of them are God-fearing people and they are trying to lead the country in righteousness and truth.

We pray for the communities where we live and work. Help us to be the influence for holiness and right that will make a difference. We pray, too, for our local leaders and that they will make right decisions that will direct us in the right path.

We pray for our troops around the world as they continue to work for freedom and justice particularly in the Middle East. We pray for safety and protection and that they may succeed in their mission with your help and direction.

We ask for continued wisdom and leading for our pastoral staff and members of the various boards and committees. We know that they face important decisions that will affect the future of our church for years to come. Help each of us as we contemplate the Forward In Faith emphasis and what our involvement should be with our time and finances. We know that you are going to meet our financial needs through us, because we're the church and you work through your people.

We pray for Pastor Steve as he brings your Word in just a few minutes. May we sense your anointing upon him today.

We pray all this with thanksgiving in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

Paul Meeks
College Wesleyan Church
Marion, IN 46953
pauldarmeeks@aol.com