A friend was asked to speak at a local
National Day of Prayer rally today. Her assignment is to lead the prayer time for pastors. She asked me to give her a top ten list of prayers to consider. I reminded her that I'm no longer serve in a full-time ministry role and that my prayers regarding the ministry have gone through a journey. She was interested anyway so I gave her two different lists, both of which have value. Maybe you can consider them in your prayers today.
My former top ten prayers as a pastor:
- For our spiritual well being
- For our relationships with our families
- For our insight into scripture as we guide others
- For our physical health
- For finances for the church
- For vision for the church
- For the harvest
- For unity
- For peace for Jerusalem
- For more nursery workers
My current top ten pastoral prayers:
- For us to be real about our spiritual condition
- For us to not use the ministry as an excuse when it comes to neglect of our families
- For us to quit telling people what and how to think, believe and behave.
- For us to get our ass to the gym.
- For us to learn to meet each other’s needs
- That our vision wouldn’t be more important than people
- That our evangelism wouldn’t be about us
- That we would stop trying to control each other
- For peace for the whole world
- That we would all be like children
What are you praying for on this National Day of Prayer?
Comments (11)
PREACH!...and don't stop!
Great post.
Love it.
Holy freaking awesome.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done here on Earth just as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but always deliver us from evil. Yours is the kingdom, the glory and the power forever. Amen.
I also pray all kinds of requests and petitions on behalf of others and
myself (for governments, leaders, churches, suffering, the lost, the
struggling found, etc).
But honestly, sometimes it's like what Paul
said: "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself
intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Romans 8:26)
@TheGreatBout@xanga - Amen.
@flowerspushthrudirt@xanga - I agree to do that!
Great post!
"Father, open your word and speak to your Children. Unleash your Spirit into the world. Bolden your Children to stand and speak of Truth and walk in your righteous ways. Thank you for being a God of refuge to the weak. Give your Children the courage to stand up under trials and glorify your name"
Hey Chad, this top ten list is fantastic. I think prayer is overlooked these days, even from the most devote followers. It is good that there is a day to promote it, but communities really need to be reinforcing prayer more. You can post this to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/ and link back to your site. We are trying to create a directory for top ten lists where people can find your site. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.
Cool. :D