The Pastor’s Corner

Prayer: Our God in heaven, your Word tells us that you are the one who sovereignly places men and women in authority over us in civil affairs. We know that there is no guarantee that these people will be godly and righteous. In fact, history has taught us that oftentimes they are not. Yet, your Word also tells us that these people, as given by you, are given for the good of your church. It is through these means that you perfect and provide and protect your church. We also know that your Word tells us to pray for "kings and all those in authority over us." We confess that we often forget to pray for our leaders and, instead, complain about them. We know that your Word denounces a grumbling and complaining spirit. Forgive us and help us to labor on our knees for our government leaders. Please help us to truly pray and plead with you for their good and the advancement of the gospel and the good of the church. We pray this in the name of Christ. Amen.

Prayer: Father, we know that you have ordained prayer for the good of your children. Yet, we so often are prayerless in our prayers. We do not plead with you for things essential for our souls. We offer platitudes to the God of heaven and approach you casually and carelessly. We often ask you for trivial things instead of focusing on things that are needful and eternal. We confess that our prayers often reflect that our eyes are set on earth and not on the world to come. When we pray, we forget your promises to provide for all that we need and to conform us more and more to the image of Christ. Teach us to pray! Please help us to labor on our knees depending on the Spirit who knows your mind and ours. Grant us praying hearts and minds. We ask all of these things in the name of Christ. Amen.

Prayer: Our great God in heaven, as your people gather today on this holiest day of the week, we pray that we would see your beauty and majesty. We mourn our remaining sin that prevents us from beholding you in all of your glory. We long to be free from this tyranny and to behold the face of your Son. Yet, in this day, you have given us a picture of what we long for and wait for as we meditate on the promise of the King's return. We ask that you would speak to us from your Word today. We plead with you to thunder from the heavens as you have done in days of old. We beseech you to be compassionate to your people and cause your ministers to speak tenderly to Jerusalem. We desire to see great fruit from your Word proclaimed and ask that it not return void but accomplish all you purpose it to do. We pray this in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Prayer: Lord, we plead our cause with you today as your people who are pilgrims in this world. We are exiles, living in a world that s not our home. We are sojourners, traveling through this life anticipating a better country. We cry out to you, "how long?" When will your Son return? When will this struggle be over? As the people of old longed for their redemption and often cried out to you, we too cry out to you pleading for that better country, the New Heavens and New Earth. We long to see sin eradicated from our lives and your creation. We long to be free from the struggle with sin. We long to see Christ coronated as the Lion of Judah. We are weary, Father. We are tired. Please help us to persevere. Give us more grace, Lord. Be merciful to us and help us in the struggle and the fight. May you be pleased to give to your church the will and desire to fight on until we hear the voice of the King. We pray this in His name. Amen.

Prayer: Our most holy God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, your Word reminds us of your majesty and grace. It reminds us of your divine providence as you order all things according to the word of your power for your glory and our good. As we review the history of the people of old, we note how often they griped, complained, and murmured against your providence. When hungry, there complained. When thirsty, they complained. When troubled from within and without, they complained. As we observe their behavior, we note that we are sometimes no different. We are ashamed of how often we behave as they did. We desire to be content and rest in your goodness, knowing that you guide our steps and guarantee that we will arrive at our heavenly rest. Please help us to trust you today. Whether this day holds difficulty or ease, we pray that we would be thankful for it. We pray this in the name of the Savior. Amen.