“As [Paul and Timothy] traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.” (Acts 16:4-5 NIV)
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 NIV)
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV)
God,
Every Sunday morning when I’m driving into town for church, I notice how empty the roads are. It always makes me wish that everyone, everywhere, was out heading to a local church — that Sunday mornings were busier than rush hour. Realistically, I know that won’t happen without a powerful, widespread move of the Holy Spirit. But I believe you’re able, God, so I pray for that movement — in Jesus’s name. Aside from that, I don’t feel a strong leading this morning on how exactly to pray for your Church. It seems like I’ve prayed for almost every area over time, so today, I simply ask this: continue to call your Church into the fullness of what you created her to be. May your Church be strengthened in faith, may it grow daily in numbers, may our love increase, and may we have godly perseverance in trials, sufferings, and struggles. Now to you, who are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, through the power of your Spirit within us — to you be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus, in all places, at all times, forever and ever. Amen.
[adapted from 9/3/2023 post]