Brothers, We Should Pray Before We Preach
As preachers we are often called upon to pray for people during the most difficult days of their life. Maybe you’ve been called upon to pray before a High School Ball game, a special ceremony in your area, or even in the halls of some government meeting. We always consider it an honor when we are asked to pray for others. But what about our prayers that are not a part of our “assigned” work? What about our personal prayer life?
It seems that one of the most crucial times for us to offer up petitions and requests to God is before we preach. Do you talk to God before you talk to others? May I encourage you to pray today about tomorrow?
Pray that God’s Word will change hearts and lives. May we never forget that the power is not in our abilities, our knowledge, or our charisma. The power is always and only in God’s life-changing Good News (Romans 1:15-16).
Pray that God’s people will be strengthened in their life of faith. We gather with the people of God to edify and encourage. When God’s Word is taught God’s people will grow (Romans 10:17). The meat of God’s Word will help Christians mature and be prepared to face the world on Monday (Hebrews 5:12-6:1).
Pray that you will be able to get yourself out of the way and let God work. As accomplished as the great Apostle Paul was in his work for the Lord he still lived with the realization that it was God who should receive all the glory (Galatians 6:14).
If we ever start believing that we are responsible for good results from the work we do we are in real trouble. “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
Pray that everyone present (including yourself) can block out the cares of the world for a brief time and be transported before the throne of God to bring proper glory to Him. We desperately need this time each week as God’s Family to gather around His throne.
In a world that is filled with chaos and confusion we all need some calm and clarity.
In a world that is filled with bad news, we need the Good News.
In a world where people are hurting we need some healing.
In a world that is filled with war we need some peace.
In a world that is filled with hate we need some love.
In a world that is filled with injustice we need some of God’s justice.
In a world that is filled with death we need to hear more about life.
Pray that God’s people will stop fighting with one another and focus on Him. When we focus our hearts and minds on our Lord; praying, praising, and listening to Him our disagreements have a way of taking care of themselves.
Let’s pray that for this time, for this hour, that God’s people can come together in unity and forget about our differences as we approach the throne of the Almighty. Let’s pray that the cross of our Savior can bring peace to our troubled hearts.
Pray that everyone present will leave our time together in worship with a renewed commitment to be the kind of Christians He wants us to be. Pray that God will help us do our part as we proclaim His Word to encourage people to live for Jesus every day.
Pray that our worship will cause people to want to be better husbands, wives, children, neighbors, workers, citizens, and followers of Jesus.
One more thought. Let’s all pray for one another. Pray for our brothers who will be standing beneath the cross of Jesus to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ. Pray that we will preach with passion as a dying man speaking to dying men.
Dear Father, we thank You for every opportunity we have to preach Your Word. Help us to seek to glorify You in our preaching as well as in our life. We pray for every man who will stand to proclaim the glorious Gospel. We pray for everyone who will listen to Your Word proclaim that lives will be changed and that Your Kingdom will be strengthened. We pray in the Name of our Savior, Amen.