Praise and Adoration
O God, we praise you for your wondrous works. We praise you that in Christ, we’ve been freely offered and made alive to receive the redemption of the cross.
Though we were your enemies, though we were haters of God, and though we were strangers to the covenants of promise, in sheer mercy and unending grace, you condescended in Jesus Christ and bestowed on us the righteousness of your Son.
And now we are justified, adopted, precious daughters and treasured sons, counted among the blessed, numbered with those whose names were written in the Lamb’s book of life from all eternity.
We praise your everlasting kindness and for the numberless blessings we receive each and every day. We praise you that we are never alone. We praise you, O Father, for your Spirit who indwells us and leads us to glorify and adore your Son, Jesus Christ.
May we never get over what you’ve made us to be. May we never get over our salvation. And may we glorify you and enjoy you because of it, all the days of our lives.
We bring these requests before you, O Lord, with this caveat: Not our will, but your will be done. Accomplish all that you will for your own name’s sake.
Sanctification of the Saints
O Lord, we bring before you, first of all, the saints here called Gethsemane Baptist Church. We ask that you would grow us, not only in our spiritual maturity, but grow us in our size as a congregation. May we grow steadily and by means of seeing the lost come to know Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. May we see baptisms and people, young and old, come to a saving knowledge of the triune God.
Father, may we see church growth in terms of our finances. Help us, above all, to give faithfully and according to our means, so that when we stand before you we will stand unashamed for every single penny we gave to our church. Help us to be faithful stewards with the resources you’ve given us. And we pray, unashamedly, Lord, for more and more resources so that we might use it all to bring glory to your name and spread across the earth the renown of Christ.
O Lord, we pray that you would increase our progress in holiness and in our love for our Savior. Keep us faithful in our Bible reading and prayer. Help us to grow every day as we seek you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Fill us with your Spirit and produce in us day by day a hatred for our sin and the fruit of being indwelt by your Spirit.
The Afflicted
Father, we also pray for those who are afflicted in any way. We pray for those who are sick, that they might be healed; for those who mourn, that they might be comforted; for those who are weary and heavy-laden; that they might find rest; for those who are discouraged or depressed, that they might find the joy that is inexpressible and full of glory; for those who are anxious, that they might know the peace that surpasses all understanding.[1] Draw close to those who suffer, Father. Be their Rock and their Fortress. Let them not think their suffering is a sign of your absence, but assure them that you will use all things for their good.
The Word
Father, open our hearts as we open your word. Give us understanding, and let us leave here changed as a result.
Grant all these requests through Jesus Christ, in whose name we now pray. Amen!
[1] Leading in Worship, Terry Johnson, 36.
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