This week’s prayers are written by Charlotte Adjepong, and are focussed on serving the Lord, His people, and His mission.

May 9 – Being Christ like – Serving Christ

‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’ Mark 10:45 NIV.

Lord Jesus, give me a heart like Yours, a heart more ready to serve than be served, a heart moved by compassion towards the weak and oppressed, a servant-hearted attitude to life, church, ministry and other people.

I pray for all the different kinds of people who are exactly like those to whom You gave special concern and care when on earth. For those who need food, drink or clothes, for disabled people, the sick, those who are suffering, and all those who are living in spiritual darkness outside of You. Save, heal, restore, and deliver where needed.

I pray for all the people who are working diligently for You throughout Your world – bless, teach, strengthen, equip and empower them to be even more fruitful in Your service.

Lord Jesus, help me to take the time to serve, with compassion, those who need my help. May the power of Your Spirit strengthen and make me bold, Your peace reigning in my body, soul and spirit. Amen

May 10 – Prayer of commitment to serve God.

Lord Jesus, help me to grow in the awareness that You are my Provider; help me to die to self each day, and recognise that it is only You that can help me to live a full, fruitful, rewarding life that honours and glorifies You.

Help me to draw on Your grace and Spirit’s strength, and to rest in Your salvation. I realise that I am weak when I do not feed on Your word, share fellowship with you and Your people, worship, serve and witness as You call me to do, listen to You but do not do nor apply Your truth, and follow the world’s ways and feed my carnal nature by my careless ways. Forgive me, cleanse me by Your blood, and renew me in Your light and truth.

I pray that I will be wholly and solely committed to walking in the light with You all the days of my life. I pray that because of the ministry and service of the people in Telford Elim, in person and online – many will be led into a place whereby they may be saved, discipled, and wholly content with life in You.

I pray that I may not turn away from the path of righteousness for Your namesake. I pray that my reliance on You may grow in biblical wisdom and godly understanding, and my assurance in You grow wider. I pray that my faith in You may grow stronger as I deny myself, take up my cross and follow You, and my passion for You grow deeper.

I pray that I may continue to rely on Your wisdom and no longer lean on my own understanding. I pray that I will be obedient and follow Your instructions at all times, and make You first in all that I do. Amen

May 11 – Serving allows us to experience the joy and peace that comes from obedience.

1 Peter 4:10-11 says, ‘Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms…so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.’

Serving is a form of worship, a way to express gratitude for what Jesus has done for us, and to share the love and grace we’ve been given.

Lord Jesus, I’m so thankful for the blessings You have given us as a church. I ask that You will give us the opportunities to share our gifts with others. I pray that You will help us to serve others, and strengthen them leading them to You.

We humbly come asking that all this is done in Your mighty name, and for Your glory. Help us by teaching and training us in the use of the gifts You have given us, and the natural abilities and competencies You have placed in us for Your service. Amen

May 12 – Surrounding yourself with like-minded people.

As we worship and serve – Father surrounds us with other like-minded Christians who can help us follow Jesus walking in the Spirit, with all of our being, and in fellowship with His people.

When we’re working side by side with other like-minded people, a bond naturally forms. This was part of God’s plan for how the church is supposed to work. That’s why Hebrews 10:24-25 instructs us to, ‘spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…but encouraging one another.’

Father, thank You that Your plan was for us is to work side by side with each other. To have a close, open, honest relationship with each other. Help us to wisely build on the relationships we have, and we pray for them to shaped and reformed on the foundations of Your word.

We pray that because of the ministry of Telford Elim, in person and online, relationships will be full of agape love, openness and honesty. Grant us the grace, wisdom and understanding to be able to challenge and encourage in love, and to spur each other to live vibrant lives of service and faith. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen

May 13 – Serving increases our faith.

As we move out of our comfort zones, God increases our faith by revealing new potential within ourselves and our church. When we see what God can do, when we see God’s power is at work within us – we begin looking for the doors that are opening, rather than standing before the ones that are closed (Ephesians 3:20).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that Your purposes are greater than ours; Your ways are not our ways, and Your thoughts not our thoughts. Thank You, as we step out of our comfort zones following You – You work in and through us. I ask that You increase our faith as we read and meditate on Your word revealing new potential in ourselves because of Your new nature planted within.

Thank You that we can look to You knowing that there will be opening doors rather than closed ones. All glory to You, Lord Jesus.

It is Your Spirit’s power working within us that equips us to be true servant-hearted followers. It is by His power that helps us to step out and touch others with the blessings You have given us. Praise Your name forever! May many more of us step out and follow Your leading each and every day. Amen

May 14 – Serving allows us to experience God’s presence in new ways.

God wants us to truly experience His presence on a daily basis; let us rise early to begin the day with the One who provides all we need for the way of life; let us take a minute throughout the day to express our gratitude, to bring our challenges, to ask for guidance. When we spend time in God’s presence – He opens our eyes and heart to see as He sees.

Lord Jesus, You are always present in our lives. We pray for more people to come to a place in their lives were they spend more time with You – some following the Christian Disciplines and some because of the life within. May all be filled with the Spirit and commune with You as You created them to do so.

We pray that more of us will spend time with You making You our first priority of the day, and throughout it until the day closes. When we spend this time with You, Lord, we encounter You in a deeper way.

You are the servant-hearted Saviour – may more of us be changed to be like You, to have You formed within, a people of worship, service and witness. Thank You for always being present with us. Amen

May 15 – Hebrew 13:8, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.’

Thank You, Jesus, that You are always the same – yesterday, today and forever. Thank You that there is nothing that can change You. Your presence, strength and grace are always available because You are never off duty. You are our great, reliable, eternal High Priest, King and God.

Although the world can feel so unstable and an ever-changing whirlwind of ups and downs can be all around us – it is so reassuring and comforting that You, Lord Jesus, are always steady, reliable and fully alert, You never change. Things in the world, and in life, may change but it is You that remains the same.

My Saviour, I feel encouraged and reassured that all of us can count on Your focus, love and commitment – we can wholly trust You and hold onto You. On this Serve Sunday, as the church focusses on creating a culture of godly service and calling people to the life of service – anoint, set apart, and equip each one of us to follow You on the road of sacrifice and service. We don’t want a church that is served by its people, but a church that creates people who will worship, serve You wholeheartedly and witness to Your saving grace in every setting in life You place them. Amen