Church Update
September 23, 2026
Prayer is a difficult thing. It’s difficult on many levels. It’s difficult for us on a spiritual level, because through it, we acknowledge our dependence on God. Our flesh doesn’t like that. It’s difficult for us on a thought level, because we’re so easily distracted. Our self-control is lacking. And it can be difficult on a practical level, because we get into ruts and mindless phrases. Our hearts are impatient.
Maybe these are just my own difficulties, but I suspect not. So if the early church was “devoted to prayer” as we see in Acts 1:14, how do we overcome these? Something that has been helpful for me is to realign my prayers with what I see NT believers praying for (below). While the list shows how our dependence on God encompasses all of life (vast), it also shows what should be a priority for believers.
Let me encourage you to read the passage/s and then take time to pray. Maybe take one topic before you sit down to eat, or a couple each morning. Be encouraged that your Father hears and will respond when you seek His face for these.
Pray:
That the Spirit would enable us to know how much Christ loves us (Eph 3:16-19).
That the Spirit would help us realize the incredible hope, inheritance, and power that we have in Christ (Eph 1:17-20; Col 1:11-12).
That God would forgive our sins (Matt 6:12).
That we would not fall into temptation (Matt 6:13; 26:41).
That God would deliver us from evil (Matt 6:13).
That our faith may not fail but grow (Luke 22:32; Mark 9:24).
That our love would grow in knowledge and discernment, and bear fruit (Ph 1:9-11).
That we would know and live out God’s will, and bear pleasing fruit (Col 1:9-10).
That we would be wise in our decisions (James 1:5).
That God would empower our good resolutions (2 Thess 1:11).
That we would be united, and that unity would glorify God (Jn 17:20-21).
That we would experience close fellowship with one another and growth together (1 Thes 3:10).
That we would disciple and develop leaders (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).
That the gospel would spread quickly and be received by unbelievers (2 Thess 3:1; Rom 10:1).
That God would give us boldness to proclaim the gospel (Acts 4:29; Eph 6:19).
That God would provide workers for reaping souls (Matt 9:38).
That God would deliver those spiritually bound (Mark 9:29).
That our missionaries would be protected and provided for (Rom 15:30-31).
That we would receive daily sustenance (Matt 6:11).
That God would heal those physically ill (Acts 28:8; James 5:14-15).
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. - 1 John 5:14-15