Prayer for those presenting His Word

This may seem like a strange post, but it was born the first time that my husband was able to preach in both morning services at our church. He has frequently been given the opportunity to teach in the evenings, but the crowd is much smaller and just different in the evenings. I had a great burden to spend the first service praying for him and his ministry, and then go listen to him during the second service. However, having a burden to pray, and knowing how to pray are two different things. I easily get distracted during prayer and find my mind going a thousand different directions, or I take the easy way out and say "Lord, help Curt" and then I don't know how to fill the 44 other minutes that I wanted to spend praying. I, thankfully, thought of calling my mother-in-law and asking if she had any resources. Curt's dad is a traveling evangelist, has been for most of Curt's life, and is an amazing example of a prayer warrior. He has taught me a lot as I have seen him praying for hours out in his parked car in the driveway. Curt's mom was able to email me a list of things that his dad prays for before he goes to a church and that she uses to pray for him also. I know that other people out there also have loved ones who minister the Word, and I thought this list might be beneficial to you as well. I made some changes to it as Curt's ministry is different from his dad's (he is in one church, not traveling to new churches each week), but the original list is still pretty much preserved.

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Prayer List for those Presenting the Word

1.      Remember that the battle is the Lord’s

2.      Grace not to be intimidated

3.      Grace to meet intimidation by God’s power with the right heart attitude

4.      Moral courage to preach against sin

5.      Uprightness before the Lord so that preaching is not from hypocrisy

6.      Take away from heart & head what Satan & old nature put there

7.      Humility & meekness of Christ

8.      He will say “Will & work in me for Your good pleasure”

9.      Remember “Faithful is He that called you, who will also do it”

10.  Spiritual power—lead him not into temptation

11.  Restore confidence if needed

12.  That God would take away anxious fears

13.  Pure motives

14.  Grace to use his mind, emotions, will, body and spirit

15.  That the Holy Spirit would have complete control of his mind, emotions, will, body, and spirit

16.  Give him a renewed zeal to serve you

17.  Grace to give You the glory

18.  Give him the compassion of Christ

19.  Grace not to be derogatory in the flesh

20.  Grace with colaborers

21.  Opportunities to minister in other’s lives

22.  Wisdom with finances/keep from greed

23.  Put love in the hearts of the congregation for him and his family

24.  Ability to get prep work done during the week

25.  Trust the Holy Spirit’s leading in choosing a sermon text

26.  Organize time wisely

27.  Speak clearly and articulately

28.  Sensitivity to know the right words to say

29.  Clear and logical progression in sermon/that it would flow well

30.  Words would accurately express intended thought

31.  Good eye contact with congregation

32.  Hedge about him as he preaches

33.  Grace to trust the Holy Spirit’s leading when speaking

34.  Boldness with the Word

35.  Preach with wisdom, love, authority, power, inspiration, liberty, simplicity, fluidness 

36.  Words to express the thoughts

37.  For him to be himself, be surrendered, be a channel

38.  Grace not to be rushed

39.  Grace to keep people’s attention

40.  Anoint his voice as he preaches

41.  Give him tact

42.  Give him wisdom to make decisions while preaching

43.  Give him clarity and the ability to not lose his train of thought

44.  Break down all the hindrances that are blocking the work of the Holy Spirit

45.  Be well received by those ministering to

46.  Real moving of the Holy Spirit

47.  Receptivity/Open Hearts of those hearing

48.  Father to draw some to be saved

49.  Good attendance/God would bring those that need to hear

50.  Freedom from distraction for those listening

51.  People to be encouraged in Christ

52.  People to be challenged/admonished in Christ

53.  People be honest about their spiritual condition

54.  People respond to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit

55.  Unbelievers be attentive to the Word

56.  The Devil to be defeated

57.  Work in people to pray, work, give, apply, respond, obey

58.  That the church be better off spiritually because of message

59.  The Holy Spirit convict audience of sin

60.  Permanent results

Preach leaning on the promise that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil 4:13)

Preach leaning on the promise that “He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4)

     

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(I may be updating and changing the list. You can access a current version of the list here.)


See anything that the list overlooks? 

Have any questions?

Either leave a comment or email me at laurasharbaugh-at-gmail-dot-com