The Pastor’s Corner

Prayer: Grant almighty God that your redeemed people would listen carefully to the voice of the Good Shepherd of the sheep. AS your people, we know that his sheep hear his voice, and that voice comes primarily through your Word proclaimed. As we sit in our pews on another Lord's Day, please grant to us a willing heart and mind to listen as though it is the last sermon we will ever hear. Grant your ministers the passion, zeal, and fire to preach as though it will be the last thing they ever preach. We know that your Word is a light to our path, and we long to be shown the way in a dark and difficult sin-wrecked world. Please help us, Father. We are your servants, and we desire to hear from your Son, so give us the ears to hear, the minds to receive, and the hearts to follow your Son and our Shepherd we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer: Grant almighty God that you would be pleased to bless your ministers of the Gospel of your dear Son. We know that they have been set apart by your Holy Spirit to serve your church and labor among them as undershepherds of the Chief and Good Shepherd. That labor is often under attack by the enemy of the souls of your people, and he often works to sideline all of their efforts. We know that you have told them to preach the Word and diligently study it. We know that they often labor on their knees for the sake of those you have charged to their care. We pray that they would be faithful shepherds, not like those unfaithful men who do not feed the sheep and tend to their care. We confess that we do not always respect those who labor over us, nor do we esteem them highly in olive because of their work. Like us, we know that they wrestle with sin and this fallen world, so we ask that you would protect them and keep them, not leading them into temptation but delivering them from the evil one. We thank you for those men who are faithful to uphold your Word, not as men-pleasers but as those who must give an account for our souls. Therefore, holy Father, give them an extra measure of your grace and Spirit today as they labor for the souls of men we pray, through Christ, the Good Shepherd of the sheep. Amen.

Prayer: Grant almighty God that your people would listen carefully to the pointed words of your Son when he tells his followers that they must live lives of self-denial. We confess to you that we are often prone to seek our own way and our own pleasure. Too often, we live each day as though this life defines the core of our existence. Yet, we know what your Word tells us -- to store up treasures in heaven and to set our minds on things above. We are easily ensnared by the trivial issues of this world. We complain and gripe over our own rights and concerns. Yet, we so rarely think about your Kingdom. We are busy building our own and put all of our energies into things that will not satisfy and will come to an end. We disregard our souls for the sake of our bodies. We ignore that which feeds our soul and clamor over our next morsel of bread. We ignore the needs of others for the sake of our own needs. In short, we fall miserably short of living lives of self-denial. Forgive us, Father, for such shortsighted thinking and living. Please grant us true godly repentance in these areas and give us more desire to live as your Son called his followers to live -- taking up our cross daily and denying self always. All of these things we pray through Him who denied himself to rescue us. Amen.

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18-20

I suspect that some Christians do grow weary in prayer as they labor day after day to plead with the God of heaven for their loved ones, the sick and infirmed, the needs of their brothers and sisters, and many other things. It can be tiresome labor to be on your knees and yet, see so little response from the Father in heaven. Sometimes these thoughts can cause us to give up, try a little or once, and then move along our day with the nagging and unsettling emotion that God doesn't hear and doesn't seem to care. First, my friends, God does listen to you. You are precious to him, and you belong to him. Second, he does care. He has told his people to cast every care upon him because he cares for us.

Prayer: Grant almighty and holy God that your people would gather in worship today to sing your praises and listen intently to your Word as sheep that often stray and have a great need to be guided by the light given for our journey. You know our frame -- that we are but dust. You know how prone to wander we are and how much we need your Holy Spirit to guide our way and illumine our minds and hearts. Father, forgive us for so easily straying from your commandments. As the church of old, we, too, are often stiff-necked and stubborn. Too often, we hear without listening, and then, we great sorrow, we realize that we have become mere hearers of your Word and not also obedient to it. Forgive us, Lord. Please grant us a great willingness to listen and to do all you tell us. Please give us attentive hearts that we may not fall and perish on our journey we pray through Christ our Lord and the Good Shepherd of the sheep. Amen.