1) Pray that God would exalt his name
in the world.
a) “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be your name.’” (Matthew 6:9)
2) Pray that God would extend his
kingdom in the world.
a) “Your kingdom come, your will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
3) Pray that the gospel would speed
ahead and be honored.
a) Finally, brothers, pray for us, that
the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you. (2 Thessalonians
3:1)
4) Pray for the fullness of the Holy
Spirit.
a) “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13; cf. Ephesians 3:19)
5) Pray that God would save
unbelievers.
a) Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)
6) Pray for boldness in proclamation.
a)
[Pray]
at all times in the Spirit . . . and also for me, that words may be given to me
in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians
6:18–19)
b) “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.” (Acts 4:29)
7) Pray for signs and wonders.
a)
“And
now, Lord, . . . grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all
boldness . . . while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders
are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29–30)
b) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (James 5:17–18)
8) Pray for the healing of wounded
comrades.
a) Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. (James 5:14–15)
9) Pray for open doors to declare the
mystery of Christ.
a)
At
the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word,
to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Colossians
4:3–4 (ESV)
10) Pray for miraculous deliverances.
a)
So
Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the
church. . . . When he realized [he had been freed], he went to the house of
Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together
and were praying. (Acts 12:5, 12)
b) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake. (Acts 16:25–26)
11) Pray that God would supply his
troops with necessities.
a) “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)
12) Pray for strategic wisdom.
a) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)
13) Pray that God would establish and
strengthen leadership in churches throughout the world.
a) And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23)
14) Pray that God would stir up and send
out Christians to the work of evangelism.
a) “Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)
15) Pray that God would call
missionaries from our church and the church universal.
a) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2–3)
16) Pray for the success of missionaries.
a) I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints. (Romans 15:30–31)
17) Pray for unity and harmony in the
ranks.
a) “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20–21)
18) Pray for the encouragement of
togetherness.
a) We pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:10)
19) Pray for a mind of discernment.
a) And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:9–10)
20) Pray for a knowledge of God’s will.
a) And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Colossians 1:9)
21) Pray to know God better.
a) [We have not ceased to pray for you to be] increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10; cf. Ephesians 1:17)
22) Pray for power to comprehend the
love of Christ.
a) I bow my knees before the Father . . . [that you] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. (Ephesians 3:14, 18–19)
23) Pray for a deeper sense of assured
hope.
a) I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers . . . that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:16, 18)
24) Pray for strength and endurance.
a) [We have not ceased to pray for you to be] strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. (Colossians 1:11; cf. Ephesians 3:16)
25) Pray for a deeper sense of God’s
power within you.
a) I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers . . . that you may know . . . what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. (Ephesians 1:16, 18–19)
26) Pray that your faith not be
destroyed.
a)
“I
have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned
again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)
b) “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)
27) Pray for greater faith.
a) Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24; cf. Ephesians 3:17)
28) Pray that you might not fall into
temptation.
a)
“Lead
us not into temptation.” (Matthew 6:13)
b) “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
29) Pray that God would complete your
good resolves.
a) To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
30) Pray that you would do good works.
a) [We have not ceased to pray for you that you would] walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work. (Colossians 1:10)
31) Pray for the forgiveness of your
sins.
a) “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
32) Pray for protection from the evil
one.
a) “Deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13)
33) Pray for a heart inclined towards
God’s Word.
a) Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Psalm 119:36 (ESV)
34) Pray for a mind that is set on
things above.
a)
Turn
my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Psalm
119:37 (ESV)
b) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
35) Pray for a mind that will meditate,
eyes that are fixed, and a heart that delights in God’s Word.
a) I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:15–16 (ESV)
36) Pray for the Holy Spirit to open
your eyes to the wondrous truths written in God’s Word.
a)
Open
my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18 (ESV)
b) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 (ESV)
37) Pray for the government.
a) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV)
38) Pray for pastors and elders.
a) Ask God to give us an inclination to his Word and not to money or fame or power (Psalm 119:36), and to open our eyes to see wonderful things when we read his Word (Psalm 119:18), and to have hearts united in the fear of God rather than fragmented over a dozen concerns (Psalm 86:11), and to be satisfied in his steadfast love (Psalm 90:14).
b) Pray for our purity and that we not come into temptation. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). It is so crucial that our minds, not just our bodies, be pure. Defiled minds dull spiritual sight and make a pastor weak and, in the end, useless.
c) Pray for our biblical, doctrinal faithfulness. An elder “must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). “Keep a close watch on . . . the teaching” (1 Timothy 4:16). Pray that a hundred years from now the leaders of Bethlehem will believe and love and teach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
d) Pray for solid, joyful, Christ-exalting marriages where dad leads in daily family devotions and where dad leads his wife in times of prayer with just the two of them. “Fathers . . . bring [your children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way. . . so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).
e) Pray for our boldness in witnessing to the truth and beauty and necessity of Christ as the only way to escape the wrath of God and enjoy the pleasure of God’s presence. “When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:9–10).
f) Pray for visionary, creative energy. Some of us are older and have been around a long time. Pray that we not get lazy. Pray that age brings wisdom and strength and zeal. Pray against any couch potatoes on the staff. Pray that we dream and create and press for more and more impact on this world for Christ. “Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess’” (Joshua 13:1). Yes! No time for coasting, or retiring, or playing. Pray that we dream and work hard till we drop.
g) Pray for converting power. We do not want to counsel and pray and lead and plan and teach and preach powerlessly and without eternal effect. Pray that what happened with Paul and Lydia will happen in our ministries. “On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:13–14). Ask the Lord to open hearts and save people through our ministry.
39) Pray for obedient church members –
pastoral joy.
a) Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)
40) Pray that you would become more
devoted to prayer.
a)
Continue
steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2
(ESV)
b)
Rejoice
in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12
(ESV)
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