Written by Dawn Rutan
I’m reading a short book called Prayers from the Pews: The Power of Praying for Your Church, by Teri Lynne Underwood, and one thing I often do while jogging around the church parking lot is to pray for our church. So I thought I would share one area I’ve been praying about lately, along with a few Scriptures that have come to mind:
“Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 ESV).
Lord, I hate the fact that we live in a world where we have to write all kinds of policies and procedures for church bodies to try to protect ourselves from legal action, though I am thankful that in our nation we are not yet seeing the level of persecution that many of our brothers and sisters around the world are facing. There are all kinds of external forces and internal divisions, all caused by the evil one and all for the purpose of drawing people away from faith in You. We know that nothing in this world can protect us from every harm. The only insurance that is 100% effective is found in You through faith.
“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you’” (Isaiah 35:3-4).
Please grant wisdom and discernment to Your church and the leadership of our congregation so that we may act in accordance with Your Word and live without fear. We know that ultimately we are only accountable to You. Where there are divisions, bring unity. Where people are living in sin, bring conviction and repentance. Where there are wounded and confused people, bring healing. May we truly live as the Body of Christ on earth.
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:7-10).
“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
