Pastoral Prayer from Philippians 2

Pastoral Prayer from

Philippians 2:1–5 HCSB

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

Gracious Father,

We thank You for Your precious Word, that declares that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, bore our sins on His own body on the cross and thereby became a propitiation for our sins.

He satisfied Your Justice. He appeased Your righteous wrath for our sin. He fully cancelled the debt against us.

He rose as proof of our justification and future glory in Your sight.

Our guilt was ever before us. But Christ put it away forever. He bore our judgment and now happily, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

We are now dead to sin and alive to You. Our lives are hidden with Christ. We have a full and free pardon. Our sins are gone. And Your verdict from Your throne is in our favor.

Forgive us of our sins of commission, our foolish sins, our worldly lusts, our evil thoughts, our wicked pride.

When we stumble, when we are weak, when we are sin, when we neglect to praise You, to thank You, Please! Lord! forgive us!

We want to be useful to You. We want to be useful to the Church. We want to be useful to the Gospel message. Empower us by Your Spirit and order our steps according to Your Word. Your Word is truth.

May we be thorough and sincere in every confession. May we be more faithful. May we be more useful. May we glorify You. May we worship You.

We pray all of this in the name of Christ our Lord.

Amen