PrayerclustIntercessory prayer is the act of praying on behalf of others, especially for the needs and concerns of the church. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is our great intercessor, who always lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).
We are also called to follow his example and pray for one another, as well as for the leaders, ministries, and mission of the church. Here are 25 intercessory prayers for the church with bible verses that you can use as a guide or inspiration for your own prayers.
1. Prayer for God’s Presence and Glory
Father, we thank you that you are with us always, and that your presence fills your temple, which is the church (1 Corinthians 3:16). We pray that you would manifest your glory in our midst, as you did in the days of Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). May your fire consume every impurity, and may your cloud cover us with your protection and favor. May your name be exalted among us, and may your praise be heard in all the earth. Amen.
2. Prayer for God’s Power and Authority
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you have all authority in heaven and on earth, and that you have given us authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). We pray that you would empower us by your Spirit to be your witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). May we preach the gospel with boldness, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 10:7-8). Amen.
3. Prayer for God’s Wisdom and Revelation
Spirit of Truth, we thank you that you guide us into all truth, and that you reveal to us the things that belong to Jesus (John 16:13-14). We pray that you would enlighten the eyes of our hearts, so that we may know the hope to which you have called us, the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and your incomparably great power for us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19). May we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Amen.
4. Prayer for God’s Love and Unity
Father of Love, we thank you that you have loved us with an everlasting love, and that you have poured out your love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 5:5). We pray that you would help us to love one another as you have loved us, so that the world may know that we are your disciples (John 13:34-35). May we be completely united in mind and thought, in spirit and purpose, in heart and soul (1 Corinthians 1:10; Acts 4:32). May we be one as you are one (John 17:21-23). Amen.
5. Prayer for God’s Grace and Mercy
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you are full of grace and truth, and that you have given us grace upon grace from your fullness (John 1:14-16). We pray that you would have mercy on us, as we confess our sins to you and to one another (1 John 1:9; James 5:16). May we receive your forgiveness and cleansing, and may we extend your forgiveness and grace to others (Ephesians 4:32). May we not receive your grace in vain, but may we live in a manner worthy of your calling (2 Corinthians 6:1; Ephesians 4:1). Amen.
6. Prayer for God’s Peace and Joy
Spirit of Peace, we thank you that you are not a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). We pray that you would fill us with your peace that transcends all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). May we rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is your will for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). May we be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8). Amen.
7. Prayer for God’s Provision and Blessing
Father of Lights, we thank you that every good and perfect gift comes from you, and that you do not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). We pray that you would supply all our needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). May we seek first your kingdom and your righteousness, and trust that you will add everything else to us (Matthew 6:33). May we be blessed to be a blessing, and may we honor you with our wealth and the firstfruits of all our crops (Proverbs 3:9-10). Amen.
8. Prayer for God’s Protection and Deliverance
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). We pray that you would protect us from the evil one, and deliver us from every evil work (John 17:15; 2 Timothy 4:18). May we put on the full armor of God, so that we can stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-18). May we resist the devil, and he will flee from us (James 4:7). May we overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). Amen.
9. Prayer for God’s Healing and Restoration
Spirit of Life, we thank you that you are the Lord who heals us, and that by your wounds we are healed (Exodus 15:26; Isaiah 53:5). We pray that you would heal us of all our diseases, and restore us to health and wholeness (Psalm 103:3; Jeremiah 30:17). May we confess our sins and pray for one another, so that we may be healed (James 5:16). May we lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mark 16:18). May we speak life and not death, blessing and not cursing (Proverbs 18:21; James 3:10). Amen.
10. Prayer for God’s Growth and Maturity
Father of Glory, we thank you that you have given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3). We pray that you would grow us in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). May we not remain as infants, but may we attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13-14). May we be rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as we were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6-7). Amen.
11. Prayer for God’s Gifts and Ministries
Spirit of Grace, we thank you that you have given each one of us gifts to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10). We pray that you would help us to discover, develop, and deploy our gifts for the edification of the church and the glory of God (Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11). May we use our gifts with love, humility, and faithfulness (1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Philippians 2:3-4; Matthew 25:21). Amen.
12. Prayer for God’s Mission and Vision
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you have given us a mission to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything you have commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20). We pray that you would give us a vision for your kingdom, and a passion for your glory. May we be your salt and light in the world, influencing it for good and exposing it to your truth (Matthew 5:13-16). May we be your ambassadors, as though you were making your appeal through us (2 Corinthians 5:20). Amen.
13. Prayer for God’s Revival and Awakening
Spirit of Revival, we thank you that you are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to your power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20). We pray that you would revive us again, so that we may rejoice in you (Psalm 85:6). May we humble ourselves, pray, seek your face, and turn from our wicked ways, so that you will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). May we see a great awakening in our generation, as multitudes come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.
14. Prayer for God’s Praise and Worship
Father of Lights, we thank you that you are worthy of all praise and worship, for you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God (Psalm 86:10). We pray that you would fill our hearts with gratitude and adoration for who you are and what you have done for us.
May we praise you with our lips and our lives, with songs and with service, with reverence and with joy (Psalm 34:1; Romans 12:1; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 12:28). May we worship you in spirit and in truth, for you are seeking such worshipers (John 4:23-24). Amen.
15. Prayer for God’s Will and Guidance
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you are the good shepherd, who leads us beside still waters and restores our soul (Psalm 23:2-3). We pray that you would teach us to do your will, for you are our God; may your good Spirit lead us on level ground (Psalm 143:10). May we trust in you with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding; may we acknowledge you in all our ways, and you will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). May we not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, so that we may test and approve what is your good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2). Amen.
16. Prayer for God’s Holiness and Purity
Spirit of Holiness, we thank you that you have set us apart for yourself, and that you have called us to be holy as you are holy (Leviticus 20:26; 1 Peter 1:15-16). We pray that you would sanctify us by the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17). May we put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature, and clothe ourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator (Colossians 3:5-10). May we be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation (Philippians 2:15). Amen.
17. Prayer for God’s Faithfulness and Fruitfulness
Father of Compassion, we thank you that you are faithful to all your promises, and that your word never returns to you empty, but accomplishes what you desire and achieves the purpose for which you sent it (Isaiah 55:11). We pray that you would help us to be faithful to you and to the calling you have given us. May we abide in you and bear much fruit, for apart from you we can do nothing (John 15:5). May we be fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10). Amen.
19. Prayer for God’s Hope and Encouragement
Spirit of Hope, we thank you that you are the God of hope, who fills us with all joy and peace as we trust in you, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). We pray that you would comfort us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). May we encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact we are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11). May we not lose heart, but fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Amen.
19. Prayer for God’s Humility and Servanthood
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you are the greatest example of humility and servanthood, who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made yourself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, you humbled yourself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8). We pray that you would help us to have the same attitude as yours. May we do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than ourselves. May we look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4). May we serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). Amen.
20. Prayer for God’s Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Father of Mercy, we thank you that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. You do not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is your love for those who fear you; as far as the east is from the west, so far have you removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:8-12). We pray that you would forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12). May we be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). May we live in peace with everyone, as far as it depends on us (Romans 12:18). Amen.
21. Prayer for God’s Strength and Courage
Spirit of Power, we thank you that you are the Lord, the God of all flesh; nothing is too hard for you (Jeremiah 32:27). We pray that you would strengthen us with all power according to your glorious might, so that we may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:11-12). May we be strong and courageous, not afraid or discouraged, for you are with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9). May we be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power, and put on the full armor of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10-11). Amen.
22. Prayer for God’s Justice and Righteousness
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you are the King of kings and Lord of lords, who will judge the living and the dead, and whose kingdom will have no end (Revelation 19:16; 2 Timothy 4:1; Luke 1:33). We pray that you would establish your justice and righteousness on the earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). May we seek first your kingdom and your righteousness, and trust that you will add everything else to us (Matthew 6:33). May we act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with you (Micah 6:8). May we defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked (Psalm 82:3-4). Amen.
23. Prayer for God’s Compassion and Generosity
Father of Compassion, we thank you that you are a generous God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy, and who did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all (1 Timothy 6:17; Romans 8:32). We pray that you would fill us with your compassion and generosity, so that we may share your love with others. May we be openhanded toward our brothers and toward the poor and needy in our land (Deuteronomy 15:11). May we not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18). May we remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35). Amen.
24. Prayer for God’s Faith and Trust
Spirit of Faith, we thank you that you are the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). We pray that you would increase our faith, so that we may please you and receive what you have promised (Hebrews 11:6). May we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). May we trust in you with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding; may we acknowledge you in all our ways, and you will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Amen.
25. Prayer for God’s Glory and Honor
Father of Glory, we thank you that you are the Lord, whose name is above every name, and whose glory fills the whole earth (Isaiah 42:8; Habakkuk 2:14). We pray that you would be glorified in your church and in your Son Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21; Revelation 1:6). May we do everything for your glory, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). May we ascribe to you the glory due your name; may we worship you in the splendor of your holiness (Psalm 29:2). Amen.
Important of intercessory prayers
Intercessory prayer is an important aspect of the Christian life, as it demonstrates our love for God and for others. Intercessory prayer is also a powerful way of partnering with God in his purposes and plans for the world. Here are some of the benefits and reasons why we should pray intercessory prayers for the church:
- Intercessory prayer aligns us with God’s will and heart. When we pray for the church, we are not imposing our own agenda or preferences, but we are seeking God’s will and kingdom. We are asking God to do what he wants to do in and through his people, according to his word and promises. We are also expressing our dependence on him, and acknowledging that he is the source of all good things. Intercessory prayer helps us to know God better, and to love him more.
- Intercessory prayer strengthens us and the church. When we pray for the church, we are not only asking God to bless and protect his people, but we are also asking him to empower and equip them for his service. We are asking God to fill them with his Spirit, his grace, his wisdom, his peace, his joy, his love, and his gifts. We are also asking God to help them grow in faith, maturity, holiness, unity, and fruitfulness. Intercessory prayer helps us to receive God’s resources, and to share them with others.
- Intercessory prayer advances God’s mission and glory. When we pray for the church, we are not only asking God to meet the needs and concerns of his people, but we are also asking him to use them for his glory. We are asking God to send them out as his witnesses, his ambassadors, his servants, and his agents of transformation. We are asking God to enable them to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, and make disciples of all nations. Intercessory prayer helps us to participate in God’s work, and to magnify his name.
Final Words
In conclusion, intercessory prayer is a vital practice that every Christian should engage in regularly. It is a way of expressing our love for God and for others, as well as a way of cooperating with God in his purposes and plans for the world. It is a way of aligning ourselves with God’s will and heart, strengthening ourselves and the church, and advancing God’s mission and glory. Let us therefore pray without ceasing for the church, as Jesus did, and as he taught us to do. May God bless you richly even as you engage with these 25 intercessory prayers with bible verses. Amen.
Prayerclust
