Pastoral Prayer from 1 John 2:20-29

Pastoral Prayer from

1 John 2:20–29 HCSB

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. 21 I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well. 24 What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life. 26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him. 28 So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.

Dearest Father,

We thank you this morning that by Your grace and mercy, that by the regenerating power of Your Holy Spirit, by faith in Jesus Christ Your Son, we know You. You have drawn us to Yourself by the power of Your Gospel message, by the truth of Your Word.

Our souls were corrupt; we lived in rebellion against Your law; we were hostile to Your truth; we were deeply defiled by our sin, condemned to eternal destruction under the righteous demands of Your law and justice.

But You sent Your Son to be our Savior, to rescue us from sin’s power. He took on our guilt on Himself and died to pay sin’s awful price. You met us at the cross and kissed us with righteousness and peace.

You satisfied Your wrath, vindicated Your justice, Your grace brilliantly magnified, the demands of Your law fulfilled — You made us Your children — and Heirs, joint heirs with Your Son. Truly, there is only one mediator between You and man — the man Jesus Christ.

As we contemplate our Lord’s sacrifice for sin, our hearts are filled with humble gratitude and thanksgiving. You graciously and tenderly drew us to Christ, the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.

O Lord — What wonderful gifts these are to us! What joy it brings to our hearts.

Give us grace and peace in our hearts to worship You in spirit and in truth, that our praise may be acceptable to You. Our desire is to please You, to adore You, to worship You and praise You. May Jesus be on display before You in all we say and do. May others see Jesus in us and be drawn to the pure light of the Gospel.

We ask all of this in the precious name of Jesus.

Amen.