Father,

We come to you this evening to magnify your greatness. For you have done a mighty work in all that you have accomplished. Lord, why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves up, and the rulers take counsel together, against you O Lord and against your people. You who sit enthroned in the heavens laugh; you hold them in derision. Lord, let us be wise in your eyes, let us heed your wisdom. Let us serve you with fear, let us rejoice with trembling. For blessed are all who take refuge in you. ¹

Oh Lord, the world seems to rise against us, and many are saying there is no
salvation to be found in you. But you O Lord are a shield for us, a bulwark
against the enemies. Glory to you O Lord, for when we cry out to you, you hear us, and you answer us from your holy hill. When we lay down and sleep, and when we awake, you sustain us. We will not be afraid of the nations, who have come against us. Salvation indeed belongs to you O Lord, and your blessing is found on your people. ²

Lord Jesus, we praise you for your gentleness and your desire to dwell with
your people. You humbled yourself by taking on the form of a man. You
emptied yourself, you gave of yourself, that we would be reconciled back to
the Father through your humble death on the cross. We praise you, for you
have been highly exalted and have all authority in the universe, and are seated at the right hand of the Father. We look forward to the day when you will return, a time when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that you are the Lord.³

Unquenchable Spirit, we praise you that you have chosen to dwell inside us
and sanctify us day after day. In your holy power and wisdom, refine us that
we may be whole. Refine us, that our hearts of stone would be replaced with
hearts of flesh. Give to us a willing spirit to sustain us and continue in this life.
Help us to make wise choices. Help us to strive for spreading the good news of our rescue.

(prayer requests if needed)

Father, Son, and Spirit, We worship you in Trinity and the Trinity in unity. We
do not blend your persons, and we do not divide your essence. For while you
are one God, you are three distinct persons, co-equal in glory and co-equal in majesty. You are uncreated, you are immeasurable, and you are eternal. We praise the holy name of our God, and we ask that you would guide us and accept our worship as a pleasing aroma in your sight. Keep us from sin this day and bring us back to worship you in a week’s time.

We pray this in the name Jesus Christ, Amen.

1. Inspired from Psalm 2.

2. Inspired from Psalm 3

3. Inspired from Philippians 2

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

You are the author of all blessings we enjoy, of all we hope for, you have taught us that neither the experience of present evils, nor the remembrances of former sins, will or can affect a sinner’s heart. You have given us the ordinance of song as a means of grace. Fit us to bear our parts in that music ever new, which elect saints made perfect now, sing before your throne and before the lamb. We bless you for tempering every distress with joy, too much of the former might weigh us down, too much of the latter might puff us up, for you are wise to give us a taste of both.

We love you for giving us the clusters of grapes in the wilderness, and drops of heavenly wine that set in us a longing to have our fill. Apart from you, we would succumb to our sin, we would starve, and we would thirst, for you give all that we need. Let us continually grasp the promise that you have given, that you will never leave us, nor forsake us.

Lord when we are in the deserts of this life, when all seems dry and we are hungry, continue to provide for us in our needs. Lord when we are in the fiery furnace of this life, when we are weak or in pain, refine us so that the dross will be burned up and the Gold will remain.

Lord when we are in the battles of this life, and victory seems far from us, help us to remember that we are conquerors and co-heirs with Christ, and that the Battle belongs to the Lord before it has began.

Lord when we are in the harvest, when the fields are full of your providence and we have more in abundance, let us remember to thank you, because in every season of our life, you are the same, you are faithful, and you are Lord over all.

Give us faith, Father, help us to trust you in the midst of a broken world. Help us to see your truth in your word. And as your truth affects our lives, help us to affect the lives of others with the truth of your word. Lord while we may live in this world, we know where our citizenship lies. Give to us courage to live and work in this world while we wait for your Son to return or for you to call us home. Until that day Father, I pray that you would give us courage.

May we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to you Oh Lord. Let us not be conformed to this world but let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

I thank you for the faithful saints of this church. I thank you that they come to hear your word. Lord bless these faithful saints. I pray for those who are sick and suffering in this congregation. I pray that you would heal them.

I pray for the youth of this congregation. This world seeks to entice them to sin. Let them hear your truth from the book of Proverbs, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I pray that you would guard them and raise up faithful men and women to mentor them. I pray for the elders and deacons of this church. I ask that you would give them wisdom and discernment to lead and serve faithfully.

Lord, you are good and your mercy endures forever. Your word testifies to your faithfulness in keeping your promises. Lord take our hearts and seal them for your courts above. You have given us much, and out of our abundance let us seek to find the lost and bring them into the fold. Gather us in and hold us forever.

Gather us in and make us your own. Gather us in, all peoples together. May the peace of Christ be among us. May we remember that it is because of Christ that we are reconciled to you. Give us to drink the wine of compassion and give us to eat the bread that is Christ, for Christ is the true bread and the true drink, and may we continue to prepare our hearts before we approach your table. And may we guard our steps as we approach a Holy God. Forgive us for our sins we pray, and hold us close to you.

We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Here is my Pastoral Prayer for this coming Lord’s Day. It is inspired from “Christ Alone”, from the Valley of Vision.

Lord God, King over all the Universe,
Great is your goodness and great is your love. It was your plan and will from the beginning to make Christ glorious and beloved in heaven, where he is now ascended, where one day all the elect will behold his glory and love and glorify Him forever.

Lord, in your goodness, we see just how marvelous your plan was. Your plan to rescue the souls of man, in order to reconcile us back to you. We come to you humbly, as we have transgressed your law. We know where we have broken your law at just one place we know that it is a transgression of the whole law. In your mercy, forgive us. In your grace, restore us.

Remind us of the day that we were saved by you, the day you overwhelmed us with your perfect salvation. When we are filled with pride, remind us of how low we were when you found us. When we think we know better, show us just how little we know. When we think that we are living a perfect life, break us with just how mistaken we are. Lord rebuke us. Humble us. We seek to go our own way, call us back to you. And when we do not listen to your voice, and when we harden our hearts, reach out with your great staff, and wring us back to the fold. For though our hearts seek a moment of ruling over a little mud puddle, pull us by your great hand out of the muck and mire and cleanse us.  

In this world you have given us a beginning we do not deserve, but we look forward to the day of perfection to come. Until that day, let us study your word and stand for discipline. Let us worship out of love for Christ and your works. Give to us your spirit, that we would continue on through this life.

Give to us strength to live after Christ’s example.

Give us strength to love those around us.

Give us strength to be gentle to those around us. Let the people around us see Christ through our actions.  

(Section for the needs and requests of my congregation)

Father, we journey to your kingdom. We travel day by day, getting closer to your bountiful kingdom, where we will know true joy, true love, and true peace. Grant to us a willing spirit to sustain us for the journey ahead.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.