A Shepherd’s Prayer

I have mentioned previously here the new church start, Grace Community Church. After their first official meeting as a church, Chad Davis, one of their pastors, sent this prayer to the congregation. I asked permission to post it here as an example of praying Scripture for your people. Scripture (especially Paul’s prayers) provide us great material for praying specifically for our people. I hope this is an encouragement to you as it was to me.

Heavenly Father,

I thank you today for loving this world enough to send your only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16). Thank you for choosing us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). Thank you that, in Christ, we have redemption through his blood (Eph. 1:7). And thank you that, in Christ, we have obtained an inheritance (Eph. 1:11) that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading and is waiting in heaven for us (1 Pet. 1:4).

I thank you as well for the people of Grace Community Church. Thank you for shining into our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). Thank you for delivering us from the domain of darkness and transferring us to the kingdom of your Son (Col.1:13). Thank you for arranging the members of this body as you have chosen (1 Cor. 12:18), for your glory.

I pray for us today that we would have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ so what we would be filled with all of your fullness (Eph. 4:18-19). And as we begin to comprehend that incomprehensible love, I pray that we would walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us (Eph. 5:2). I pray that we would love one another because we have been loved (1 John 4:11,19). Fill our hearts with the glory and beauty of the gospel and of our Savior so that such joy and love will overflow into our relationships with each other.

Help us to glorify you by exalting Christ through the power of the Spirit today. Amen.