Your Weekend Prayers for Renewal – Words of Grace – November 22, 2019

We have begun our journey through the book of Malachi and down the road to renewal. This Sunday, we will continue with the second of six messages in this series. From Malachi 1:6-14, we will consider true worship and honor for the name of the LORD.

This weekend, join me in praying for renewal in our personal lives and in our congregation. While we are at it, let’s pray for other congregations in our city. Renewed churches will be a blessing to Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Here are six prayers for renewal from the book of Malachi.

PRAY FOR A RENEWED UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S LOVE (MALACHI 1:1-5).

God loves his people. This love assures us that we are his and it awakens us to the responsibilities we have as his covenant people. Ask the Lord to fill our hearts with his love and that we will love him in return.

PRAY FOR RENEWED WORSHIP (MALACHI 1:6-14).

When we honor the name of the LORD, we will come to him in whole-hearted worship. We will present our whole selves to him. Our worship service and our worshipping lifestyle will be transformed by genuine honor for God.

PRAY FOR RENEWED LEADERSHIP (MALACHI 2:1-9).

In Malachi, the priests were rebuked because they were not leading the people to the Lord. Instead, they were causing the people to stumble by their teaching. Pray that God’s word will be taught by leaders and obeyed by all.

PRAY FOR RENEWED RELATIONSHIPS (MALACHI 2:10-16, 3:5).

Men were marrying women who worshipped foreign gods. Some men were divorcing their wives and thus breaking their covenant with them. This was indicative of broken relationships among God’s people. Pray for faithful love, unity, and peace among us.

PRAY FOR RENEWED PRIORITIES (MALACHI 3:6-12).

The people of God were no longer supporting the temple and the spiritual life of the nation. The Lord said that to return to him they must reorder their priorities. Pray that we will seek first the kingdom of God.

PRAY FOR RENEWED HOPE (MALACHI 3:1-5, 3:16-4:5).

We need the Lord to renew us. We need a Savior. Malachi calls us to renewal, but gives the word of promise that God will send his Messenger and that the Lord himself will come to us, turning us to himself. This is Jesus. Pray that our hearts will stay hopeful in him.

If you are looking for help praying for renewal, I suggest that along with Malachi, you pray through Psalm 119. I have been helped by doing so.

See you Sunday.

-Scott