After this, the church all over Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a season of peace. The congregations grew larger and larger, with the believers being empowered and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. They worshiped God in wonder and awe, and walked in the fear of the Lord. (Acts 9:31 TPT)
And now, here we are, all of us in God’s presence, anxious to hear the message that God has put into your heart to share with us. (Acts 10:33 TPT)
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:15-16 NLT)
The first Sunday in January, our pastor prayed over each family in our church as we enter 2026. Our local congregation has a unique calling to help change the spiritual atmosphere of our city and county. For that to happen, each individual and each family must be growing in spiritual health. We are all becoming more fully who God created us to be, each in our own unique way and at our own pace. This ongoing growth is what Paul called sanctification: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV). Even so, the prayers of our local church for this region truly matter. Every local church has its own distinct calling to minister to the people in its community. Whatever that calling may be, let us join together to pray for the Church of Jesus in all places.
Jesus,
Today we come to you with gratitude, acknowledging that you are the Rock, the Cornerstone, and the Head of the Church. Thank you for the many and varied people who confess you as Lord, are led by your Spirit, and seek to serve your Kingdom in their daily lives. Thank you for the local congregations that gather believers together for worship, prayer, teaching, service, and community.
As we enter 2026, we pray that the people of your Church would respond to the events of the world with prayerful, Spirit-led hearts. Give us a desire to stand in the gaps through prayer, to serve in elected and civic roles with honor and integrity, and to seek your wisdom as we engage our communities and work for the good of others.
We pray that your Church in all places would be a people of Truth—living, speaking, and declaring your truth to the world. We pray that churches would uphold and live out a biblical standard of sexuality. We ask that pastors and shepherds would receive a fresh revelation of their calling to serve your people, and that your people would honor them well. May leaders at every level of your Church be men and women of integrity, humility, and hearts aligned with yours.
We lift up the prodigals, the backslidden, and the lost. We pray that every outreach intended for them would draw them into your family. We claim them as your sons and daughters, and ask that your Spirit would even now prepare their hearts for repentance and restoration. You came to seek and to save the lost—help us to faithfully plant seeds, water them, and joyfully participate in the harvest of lives transformed.
We pray for a fresh outpouring of your Spirit on your people and on local churches. Help us to hear your voice clearly and respond in obedience. Guard us from distraction or indifference that would cause us to miss the leading of our Shepherd. Position us spiritually to recognize and seize the opportunities of this coming year, and to discern what you are calling us to in this new season. As your Spirit moves among your people, bring revival, renewal, healing, miracles, and reformation to our communities and our society.
Jesus, help your people to speak the truth in love and to grow in every way more and more like you, the head of your body, the Church. You cause the whole body to fit together perfectly, and as each part does its work, the entire body grows healthy and strong and full of love. As darkness increases in the world, may your light within us grow brighter. May we know, inhabit, and display your perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. Empower and encourage us by the Holy Spirit to worship you with awe, to walk in the fear of the Lord, and to remain faithful. Bless us and keep us, we pray, in your name. AMEN.