January 25, 2010
When we pray with a God focused attitude, amazing things can happen. Look up Acts 4:31-32! It says that the whole place was shaken up, and obviously, people began to relate to one another in a healthy and generous way. Your prayers matter. Here is one way you may work with God to help transform your weekly church services, and maybe even, your own perspective to a more God-focused one.
-Pastor Sabine
How to Pray for a Worship Service*
Scripture
Read the Scripture passage noted in the bulletin for today’s sermon
Adoration
-Praise God for entering our place of worship
-Adore God for who He is: loving, gracious, holy, just, compassionate, and so on.
-Sing a song of praise
Silence
Wait in silence for a few moments-listening to God for His wisdom to pray for today’s worship service
Prayer for the worship service
-Pray for excitement, worship, and praise to take place, that God might be honored and glorified throughout the worship time.
-Ask the Holy Spirit to prepare the heart of every worshiper so the music, message, and prayers might speak to them. Ask the -Spirit to assist people in setting aside any distracting “noises.” Ask God for teachable hearts.
-Request the manifestation of God’s presence in the services (Ps. 22:3)
-Pray for visitors. Pray that they will feel welcomed and loved. Pray that God will open their eyes and convict their hearts about -Jesus Christ. Pray that they might desire to become a part of God’s family.
-Pray for a spirit of thanksgiving in the musicians and singers (Ps. 100:4). Speak blessings over the choir and worship leaders. -Pray they will effectively lead people into worship. Pray that they will illustrate the joy of the Lord.
-Ask the Holy Spirit to protect and anoint the pastor so he or she will boldly preach the Word.
-Pray for many hearts to be open to receiving the message, for hearts to be stirred. Ask the Holy Spirit to loosen a spirit of conviction for sin and desire for conversion in the worship service.
-Ask God to bind unbelief and doubt, as well as apathy to the glory of God.
-Pray for physical and emotional healing to come to people throughout the congregation.
-Pray for biblical worship-that which includes the emotions as well as reason. Rebuke the spirit of entertainment and any meaningless religious routines.
Thanksgiving
-Ask God to give people a spirit of worship and thanksgiving throughout the coming week and to apply what the Spirit has convicted them of in worship.
-Thank God for his faithfulness in answering your prayers.
-Thank God for a wonderful opportunity to worship, and ask God that this might be the beginning of revival across your nation.
-Thank God for any specific words/answers/insights God revealed while you were praying.
*Doug Kamstra's Praying Church Idea Book is a great resource!
- Welcome to H.o.P.E !
- God’s dream is that His House would be a ‘House of Prayer for all People’ ! The Forest Lake Church hosts House of Prayer Experience (H.o.P.E) every Wednesday at 7PM. From the time we have begun meeting in a small classroom to its current space since 2007, we have seen God calling His people to prayer. Every Wednesday, H.o.P.E becomes a place for a God encounter for many. We pray that many more House of Prayer Experiences will begin to rise up all over the US and the rest of the world. Here are weekly stories of H.o.P.E that remind us that God is at work in our lives and everywhere!