Are there certain things you find yourself praying over and over, such as when you pray for yourself, your family, and your ministry?
I do. I have a list of some things I pray regularly. These have become some of my core prayers.
I’m sure there is no perfect list of core prayers, and I’m sure it varies from person to person and situation to situation. That said, here are some of my core prayers.
Personal & Family
- Wisdom
- Love
- Health
- Peace & Protection
- Strength & Energy
Leadership & Ministry
- Wisdom & Knowledge (“Give me wisdom and knowledge so I can lead this people, because no one can govern this great people of yours without your help.” 2 Chronicles 1.10, CEB)
- Clean Hands & Pure Heart
- Courage
- Clear Vision
- Passion & Energy
- Patience & Persistence
- Fruit & Joy
- Change & Transformation
- Favor & Power
For more on praying for leadership and ministry, see A Prayer for Transformational Leadership.
On favor and power, especially for preaching, I often pray Acts 4.29 and a prayer based on some of Paul’s words …
“Lord, … enable your servants to speak your word with complete confidence.” (Acts 4.29, CEB)
“Lord, please let my message and my preaching be presented, not with wise convincing words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power and with deep conviction … so that people’s faith won’t depend on human wisdom but on the power of God (based on 1 Corinthians 2.4-5 and 1 Thessalonians 1.5), for ‘God’s kingdom isn’t about words but about power” (1 Corinthians 4.20).
During the course of my leadership at Centre Grove (almost 7 years, so far), four prayers have become part of our church culture …
- God, give us hearts like yours!
- God, break our hearts for what breaks yours!
- Lord, do something unpredictable and uncontrollable!
- Lord, please use us to make your name great!
What are some of your core prayers, for yourself and your family, and for your leadership and ministry?