Sunday’s Congregational Prayer
We will be praying for our missionary partner Judith Blumhofer. Judith is a licensed physician who serves in Honduras. She works to provide medical care for children and to strengthen care of foster children. She also partners with child service agencies in Honduras and provides training and support for house parents. Judith desires to build relationships through her medical and child social services that allow the gospel to be shared in word and in deed.
Today’s prayer is based on God’s Word from 2 Timothy 1:7 (nlt):
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, and love, and self-control.
Please join me in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the mighty and omnipotent Creator of heaven and earth and of all mankind, yet You are Emmanuel, God with us. You know each one of us by name.
We come before You today reverently with grateful hearts and in awe of Your lovingkindness. We praise You for Your saving grace through Jesus Christ and for Your Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
Thank You for not leaving us alone or powerless in this fallen world, but for calling us out of darkness to live faithfully for Your glory.
Lord, we pray that You would stir up within us the spiritual gifts that You have given us by Your abundant grace. Rekindle our love for Christ when it grows cold. Strengthen our faith when we grow weary. Renew in us a zeal for Your truth, Your church, and for Your gospel mission.
Forgive us for the times we have given in to fear, to silence, or to compromise. Too often, Father, we shrink back from speaking the truth in love, from serving others, or from standing firm in obedience. Thank you for reminding us that You have not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and self-control.
We confess that we have sinned against You and against others, both through our words and in our deeds, and by our passive inaction.
We confess to You quietly now our individual sin.
Father, we ask for Your forgiveness and for Your mercy.
We pray that You would grant us courage to live boldly for Christ in our homes, our workplaces, our schools, and our communities. Fill us with godly love that reflects the compassion and holiness of our Savior Jesus. Give us disciplined hearts, sound minds, and controlled tongues that we may walk and speak wisely and faithfully in this confused and rebellious world.
We pray that You would strengthen this congregation to labor together for the advancement of Your kingdom. May both our congregational and personal lives bear witness to the transforming power of Your gospel, so that many more would come to know and trust in Your Son alone for their salvation.
We pray for those in our congregation and everywhere who are hurting or struggling. May Your gracious Spirit empower, sustain, and encourage them.
We pray for Your missionary servants throughout the world who bring Your Gospel of grace and the love of Jesus to the nations.
Today, we lift up to You our missionary partner Judith Blumhofer. We pray that You will continue to bless her missionary efforts with fruitfulness. We pray for a hedge of protection around Judith and her many adopted children. We praise You for the recent government approval of the adoption of her new son, Angel. We pray that funding for Baby J’s formula will come through, that construction of the local school will be completed by August, that research grants will be funded, and that needed medical equipment will be received.
We pray for Pastor Daniel today as he preaches from 1 Peter. May Your spoken Word through Daniel open our minds, soften our hearts, activate our hands, and shape our words for Your glory, for our own good, and for the good of others.
We pray for the newest members of our New Covenant Church family being recognized and welcomed today. May their time here in Your church among Your people be rich and fruitful.
We pray all of these things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
Amen.