One of the most meaningful portions of our worship gatherings are our public prayers. Every week we include a pastoral prayer led by one of our elders. Our pastoral prayers begin with a prayer of thanksgiving, before praying specific requests for our church, a sister church, our nation, and our world. The following pastoral prayer was prayed by Mike Klaassen on August 16, 2020.  

 

Lord I come before you this morning to praise your glorious name. The name that is above all names. The name that magnifies joy to all whom you have chosen. Blessing, Honor and Glory to the name and person of Jesus. Father, we come to you with a hunger and a passion to walk as Jesus walked, think as he thought, talk as he talked, and do as He did. We come Father only by the mercy You extended through Jesus death as an innocent victim, yet willing sacrifice for our every sin. Father we are so thankful for the purity of your church. We know we are sinners, so we know some of our motives and actions are presently not pure. So, our thankfulness hinges on your promise to sanctify us making us look more and more like Christ therefore collectively purifying the church as we persevere. We cling to the promise of your word that one day we will be unblemished. In Ephesians 5 it says:


25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

 Oh Lord, we long for the day of our perfection forever in Your presence. Until that day we rejoice in thankfulness that you will bring about purity in your bride. In that vein Father, I pray for PBC that you would transform us into your image daily so we might reflect Your Word and Your nature. To be like You Lord, is what we truly desire. It is my prayer that our love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that we may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, to Your glory and praise.

Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for sending Your Word with power over the years, thereby making this church a green pasture where the saints are well nourished, established, and equipped for the work of ministry. Father, let Your sent Word continue to go forth from the pulpit of this church, resulting in convicted hearts, encouraged hearts, and souls won to Your glory until Christ’s return. Father, we are enduring strange times and we need the constant reminder of the truth of Your Word. We do not know Father how to navigate these days, but we do know You have already navigated them. We do not know when a vaccine will be found to cure and contain this virus, but we do know that Your Son provided the cure for our sin. We do not know if masks ultimately really protect us, but we do know that Your Word will ultimately protect us from sin if we hide it in our hearts. We do not know if the pattern of flattening the curve or mass herd mentality is best, but we do know the pattern of life provided by Your Son is the best for us to live. We do not know how we should come back together, but we do know we need to be with Your family. We do not know who is going to be the next US president, but we do know You are the real Ruler. We do not know what the economy is going to do, but we do know that the cattle on a thousand hills are Yours. We do not know so many “whys” that haunt and hurt us, but we do trust You. Bless those who faithfully preach Your Word at PBC as we strive to worry less about those things beyond your will for us to know and to trust more in those things we know and believe to be true.

Father I also pray for Brook Baptist Church and their pastor David Howard. Lord, they are a small congregation with a passion to help the less fortunate. Thank you, Lord, for blessing them in their ministry to feed the poor. You have richly blessed them with resources and connection with the Southeastern Virginia Foodbank to provide necessities for so many needy families every Wednesday with the opportunity to share the Gospel. I pray that You would send a spirit of encouragement to Brook Baptist Church so that they might continue to walk in a manner worthy of their calling as believers in Christ; lead them to walk with all humility and gentleness, with patience, continuing to show tolerance in love for those around them. I pray even as they meet right now and worship you this morning, that every heart would be overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit as your Word is faithfully preached and every member would worship in spirit and in truth. Thank you, Lord, for what you are accomplishing and are going to accomplish through your faithful servants at Brook Baptist Church.

Father I pray for America. We seem to be in a time where cultural outrage surrounds us. The current pitch of our outrage culture means in merely voicing an opinion someone sees as a threat, qualifies for instant annihilation, no questions asked. Show us the next person to hate and we are so there; we take an animalistic pleasure in destroying the kid in the MAGA hat; or in fashioning a half century-old interview with an actor into a knife with which to posthumously eviscerate him. And then, we look for the next target. Father we have become a people full of a toxic mix of malice and ignorance. We call it holding people accountable when our actions only humiliate and dehumanize them. Father convict our hearts that humiliation and dehumanizing are not accountability or social justice tools…they’re emotional off-loading at best, emotional self-indulgence at worst. When we desecrate the character of others, we desecrate our own along with Jesus, and we betray our faith. Forgive us Lord…if our faith asks us to find the face of God in everyone we meet, that should include politicians, media, and strangers on Twitter with whom we most violently disagree. Martin Luther King Jr got it right when he said, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Lord cause us to take our eyes off this world and turn them toward Jesus. Help us to see all people as your image bearers and love them like You do, unconditionally and sacrificially.


We not only pray for America but also the country of Sudan. Sudan is ravaged by war and poverty. Father, we pray for Your church in Sudan. We pray believers would find ways to recover from the damage done by war and persecution that includes both the physical damage from bombing, fire, and poverty, and also the spiritual and emotional trauma caused by such prolonged pain. Father we ask that you would move in such a way to provide desperately needed training for spiritual leaders and pastors that suits the current Sudanese context. Father we ask that you would bless them with resources to help disciple the church. Out of 114 languages, only 10 have the whole Bible. They need resources so they can read and understand Scripture, gain a Christian worldview, and learn how to reach their neighbors (even their enemies!) for Jesus. Help Sudan’s leaders to amicably settle their political differences. In Your mercy, bring peace to this nation. You are the Great Comforter, we lift up the Sudanese children to you. In Your mercy, provide them with what they need to survive. Heal and strengthen their tiny bodies so they may one day experience fullness of life. Our hearts ache for these children, who live in circumstances no child should endure. Father may the Sudanese people find hope in You. Grant them courage and continued resilience to hold on to what is good.


Father, thank you for being here in our midst this morning. I pray for Hopson as he readies to faithfully preach Your Word. As we prepare to open Your Word, read it, and hear it preached to us, we ask that You Help us listen humbly, attentively, expectantly and prayerfully. Holy Spirit speak to our hearts and use Your Word to both confront and comfort us, to call us away from sin and toward holiness. It is in Jesus name we pray…AMEN!