Pastoral Prayer for Wynne Baptist Church - Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Heavenly Father, I am overwhelmed this morning that You, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe would choose to listen to the weak cries of sinful saints on behalf of the nations. I am even more overwhelmed that You would choose to bless this body of believers with a heart for You to be glorified around the world. Thank You, Lord, for sending Jesus on our behalf so that we might now approach Your throne of grace with confidence and be free to spend our lives radically for the expansion of Your name and reputation around the world.

Steadfast Father, my heart is heavy and anxious and eager this morning because of the change that is before us as a nation and a church. More than likely, less than 36 hours from now, our nation will have a new President. This Sunday our congregation will be led in worship by a different face. Yesterday, around 150 people from this flock committed to a short-term mission trip in 2009. A dozen or so committed to long-term (2-3 years or career) mission service with their lives. Might this be the year of the harvest? You have brought new families to our church. Adults, teenagers, and children are being baptized. Things are changing, Lord, and I/we need Your help to lead us in the days ahead. Remind us all that we are desperate and helpless sheep, who have been selected by the Ultimate Shepherd, to feast and flourish in Your pasture as You direct us. May we never be found guilty of being led by another.

Sovereign Father, I believe in my soul that the best days are yet to come here at Wynne Baptist. We have yet to begin to give what we can truly financially give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, other mission entities, the poor and impoverished, and our church. We have yet to begin to see how many of our teenagers and children will be called out to go to the hardest places in the world with the Gospel. We have yet to begin to see how You might want us to best and most effectively reach our beloved city of Wynne with the Good News. We have yet only faintly begun to taste and see how good You are. We do not know the future, but how good it is to know the One who does.

Glorious Father, come and show us Your glory. Come and give us a sense of urgency and deep compassion in our souls for others to see Your glory from our mouths and our actions. Give us unity and love for one another as Satan despises and hates and is horrified by what he observes from WBC and will try everything he can to tear us apart. Bind him from our midst I pray! Cause our hearts to love Your Son more affectionately. Give us a hatred for sin and a fear of living rebellious, disobedient, and mediocre lives. I/We look to You to do for us, in us, around us, and through us what only You can do. Make us dependent upon Your Spirit. Lead us to pursuits that would only work if Your Spirit were to do powerfully do it through us. Do far more than any of us could ever ask, imagine, or think…not so WBC would be talked about…but so that You might be seen and shown for the majestic God that You are.

In the Wonderful Name of Jesus I/we pray….
Amen.