The focus of this week’s prayers is on the Heart of the Matter.

Matthew 6:19-21, CSB, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

May 13 – Father, we pray for genuine encounters with Your Holy Spirit this week. For many to experience Your power, presence and peace, and for Your light to overcome any remaining darkness in our lives.

For those who came out for prayer and ministry yesterday, continue the deep work of Your Holy Spirit in their lives. For Your call to salvation, may it go forth effectively from our church. For Your call to abide in Christ from John 15, may we all abide fully in Christ.

For Your call to add or supplement the Christian graces or virtues to our faith, we pray for ears to hear, understanding to do, and hearts that are open and willing.

We ask for a breaking down of that which is a barrier to a genuine connection with Your Son in our lives. May true, lasting and open connections be established.

Your Son is always open to receive the One who comes to Him in faith – we confess we are not always open to Him and His will. We ask for the grace to become the people You are calling us to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

May 14 – Father, we pray about the connections between each one of us in church. Bless our relationships with each other. May they be life giving, healthy and Christ-honouring.

Where there are areas which are hard, damaged or dysfunctional; where there is self-seeking, self-promotion, self-loathing or self-doubt – may these be renewed and overcome in Christ.

Enable our church to redemptively deal with them. Instead of disconnection – may there be a true unity of the Spirit. May Your agape love become the cement that draws us together.

May Your Kingdom’s essences of grace, mercy and truth be at the heart of our church. Where these are already flowing – thank You, and may these areas grow even stronger in Christ. Amen.

May 15 – Father, as we consider the heart of the matter this week – we recognise the need to model authenticity – authenticity in our dealings with others, in our expression of Your values and nature through how we live day by day, and in our own hearts.

We pray for these graces so that in every way, as we seek to follow Jesus, our treasure boxes, our storerooms will be full of good fruit from lives fully surrendered to Christ. That our treasure will be in those things that reflect heaven, rather than rooted in the things of this world.

Your beloved Son was the true, authentic and eternal Son of God. We declare these to be true statements about Him. Everywhere He went He modelled these attributes so that people were encountering the divine presence in their midst.

As we seek to be authentic models of Christianity – we ask for Your presence to fill our lives, Your power to enable us to be so, and revelation and spiritual wisdom and understanding through Your Word to sanctify / set us apart as Your children so that others are drawn to Jesus. Amen.

May 16 – Father, help us to personally and corporately establish the principles of biblical servanthood that are revealed in Your Word.

First, we ask that we may know what these are; secondly, that the freedom this lifestyle brings will be clearly understood and lived out; thirdly, that Satan’s attempts to link biblical stewardship with slavery, legalism and destructive bondage will be exposed and overthrown.

Fourthly, that Your Holy Spirit will supply the grace needed to commit to this lifestyle; and fifthly, that Your agape love will be at the heart of our pattern of servanthood.

Where we are tempted to use servanthood as a tool to gain recognition or credit or self-satisfaction, enable us to stand firm in Your truth; where we are already doing so – forgive, cleanse and renew us. We commit to humble ourselves and point instead to Jesus and His grace.

‘Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf’ (Romans 15:30).

Father, the prayer that is invoked here is through the highest authority, the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the agape love Your Holy Spirit has for us and plants in our hearts.

Paul’s call to pray for himself, was grounded in the highest authority. We pray by our Lord Jesus Christ and through the agape love of the Holy Spirit for Your deep work in the heart in each one of us so we can be the servants You call us to be.

May our lives be a wonderful pattern of biblical servanthood which others can recognise so they too can become servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

May 17 – Father, You call us to be good stewards of our time, finances, talents, relationships and giftings. Holy Spirit empower us to be good stewards in these areas.

We know that it is possible to be really good stewards of our finances but poor stewards of our time or relationships. To be dedicated stewards of our talents but not to really know what our spiritual gift/s are.

Your Word is clear that each of these areas is important to You. We cannot claim not to be aware of what You require. You clearly state that we are accountable both in this life, and will be before Your throne on the Day of Judgement, for how we have used our time, talents, treasure, gifting/s, and how we have loved others.

Poverty is a terrible affliction when there is no grace in it. You call us to pray for, advocate for, and help the poor, needy and broken. May our hearts be open and our lives obedient to Your call in this area.

Sometimes we acknowledge that we have impoverished our souls by not following biblical stewardship principles in these areas. May Your Holy Spirit reveal to us if this is the case -especially in which of the five areas listed above we are falling short of Your standard.

May Telford Elim, in person and online, be recognised as a place where excellent biblical stewardship is practiced, taught, modelled and embraced. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen.

May 18 – Father, we acknowledge the benefits of co-ordination between the different ministries in the church. We pray for a coherent strategy which allows each ministry within church to fulfil its intention, and be ‘fit for purpose.’

Where a ministry has been struggling to clearly understand its place in the overall scheme of our church – may revelation, clarity, and spiritual wisdom and understanding be given.

We acknowledge the importance of relationships between each ministry; we also pray that where any ministry or person within it feels isolated or neglected – we will know this and be able to take proper steps to address the problem.

Where it is happening because of territorial issues, or through Satan’s destructive involvement – may truth, righteousness and Your Holy Spirit’s power flow bringing a godly balance, Cross-centred victory, and that ministry to be in a healthy place in our church. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

May 19 – Father, may the church as a whole take ownership of any issues that need addressing. It can happen that the many think that it is the problem for the few; whereas, Your Word is clear that when one suffers all suffer, and when one part of the body is overwhelmed then the whole body loses energy and spiritual vitality.

We ask that the whole church, in person and online, will see the church’s children, young people, young adults and every other age bracket, as vitally important groups who need dedicated workers, committed teachers and gifted ministry practitioners.

Thank You for Kids Extravaganza under Helen Lambie and team, Limitless Youth and Thrive under Pastor Alisha and Pastor Samuel, and every other ministry in church and their respective leaders and teams.

We pray for them asking that they be encouraged in the ways of Christ, supported in ministry, filled by Your Holy Spirit and word, and each following the pathway of life, especially in ‘whole-life discipleship.’

Where we are in lack, as a church, in these areas – may redemptive pathways be created which lead to fit for purpose, effective and fruitful ministry. May spiritual development and whole-life discipleship be the call and commitment of every person. In Jesus’ name. Amen.