PRAYER GUIDE FOR BOW VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH DAY 1
Transcript of PRAYER GUIDE FOR BOW VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH DAY 1
PRAYER GUIDE FOR BOW VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH
Please use this prayer guide until God unmistakably provides Bow Valley
Baptist with the pastor that He has chosen to lead His people.
DAY 1
Scripture Reading:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Prayer Prompts: Pray for our church to wholeheartedly trust the Lord
while searching for a pastor.
Pray that God will raise up Christ-centred leaders to serve on the pastor
search team.
DAY 2
Scripture Reading:
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who
holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven
golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient
endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have
tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found
them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for
my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this
against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the
works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your
lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you
hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who
conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise
of God.’ Revelation 2:1-7
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the church to return to her first love, Jesus
Christ.
Pray for the church and search team to hear the Spirit clearly throughout the
pastor search process.
DAY 3
Scripture Reading:
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner
worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility
and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager
to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one
body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that
belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and
Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-
6
Prayer Prompts: Pray for unity and peace in the church while searching
for a pastor.
Pray for a strong sense of unity among the search team as they review and
discuss potential pastoral candidates.
DAY 4
Scripture Reading:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in
me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does
bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean
because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in
you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the
vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are
the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears
much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not
abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the
branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide
in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will
be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much
fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
John 15:1-8
Prayer Prompts: Pray for church members to continually abide in Christ
and produce much fruit that glorifies the Father during the interim period.
Pray for members of the search team to remain close to Christ.
DAY 5
Scripture Reading:
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If
you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have
kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I
have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may
be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I
have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay
down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I
command you. No longer do I call you servants,[a]for the servant
does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends,
for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to
you. John 15:9-15
Prayer Prompts: Pray for church members to abide in the love of Christ
and love one another with the love of Christ.
Pray for God to bond the church and future pastor together in love.
DAY 6
Scripture Reading:
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you
should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that
whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These
things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:16-17
Prayer Prompts: Pray for a season of fruitful ministry as the church
prepares for her next pastor.
Pray for the search team to be blessed with answered prayers.
DAY 7
Scripture Reading:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for
welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will
call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will
seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the search team and the church to hope in God
and seek Him wholeheartedly with the realization that He is in control of the
church's future.
DAY 8
Scripture Reading:
Examine me, and probe my thoughts! Test me, and know my
concerns!
See if there is any idolatrous tendency in me, and lead me in the
reliable ancient path! Psalm 139:23-24
Prayer Prompts: Pray for our church family and members of the search
team to have hearts that are pure as we work through the pastor search
process.
Pray for your future pastor to maintain a pure life before God.
DAY 9
Scripture Reading:
Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his
power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may
be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11
Prayer Prompts: Pray with the understanding that searching for a pastor
is primarily a spiritual process, so spiritual warfare will be present.
Pray for God's protection on the search team and the church.
DAY 10
Scripture Reading:
So you, my child, be strong in the Bow Valley that is in Christ
Jesus. And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many
others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach
others as well. 2 Timothy 2:1-2
Prayer Prompts: Pray for your future pastor and his family to be
strengthened by the grace of Jesus Christ.
Pray that our future pastor will be a faithful disciple-maker.
DAY 11
Scripture Reading:
But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to
all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. But
he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. For that
person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the
Lord, since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his
ways. James 1:5-8
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the search team to seek God's wisdom as they
review resumes and prepare to contact potential pastoral candidates.
Pray for our church leaders to seek God's wisdom in the interim period.
DAY 12
Scripture Reading:
For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not
ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge
of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may
live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects—bearing fruit in
every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, being
strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the
display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully giving thanks to the
Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the
light. Colossians 1:9-12
Prayer Prompts: Pray for your future pastor and his family to be certain
that it is God's will to transition to a new field of ministry.
Pray the Father will be glorified in the pastor search process.
DAY 13
Scripture Reading:
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about
three thousand people were added. They were devoting themselves to
the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and
to prayer. Acts 2:41-42
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the church to reflect the elements of a healthy
church both in the interim period and when the new pastor is called
serve.(worship, discipleship, ministry, fellowship, evangelism, and prayer)
DAY 14
Scripture Reading:
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following:
“This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven
spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have
a reputation that you are alive, but in reality you are dead. Wake up
then, and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I
have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my
God. Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it,
and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will
never know at what hour I will come against you. But you have a few
individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will
walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. The one who
conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never
erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before
my Father and before his angels. The one who has an ear had better
hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Revelation 3:1-6
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the church to be filled with life through the Holy
Spirit.
Pray for the church to be strengthened to carry out the vision God has for
her.
DAY 15
Scripture Reading:
“I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have
loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by
this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the search team and Bow Valley to be obedient
to Christ's command to love one another.
Pray that our Christ-like love will be seen by the world.
DAY 16
Scripture Reading:
Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do
far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Prayer Prompts: Pray the power of Christ would be known in and through
Bow Valley and that all glory would be given to Him throughout the pastor
search process.
DAY 17
Scripture Reading:
Create for me a pure heart, O God!
Renew a resolute spirit within me!
Do not reject me!
Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!
Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance!
Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! Psalm 51:10-12
Prayer Prompts: Pray for each member of the search team to stay close to
the Lord through hearts that are continually cleansed by Him.
Pray for your next pastor to keep a clean heart before the Lord.
DAY 18
Scripture Reading:
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to
judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his
kingdom: 2 Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or
not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and
instruction. 3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate
sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will
accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable
curiosity to hear new things. 4 And they will turn away from hearing
the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths. 5 You,
however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an
evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Prayer Prompts: Pray for your future pastor to faithfully preach the Word
of God.
Pray the Lord gives Bow Valley a hunger of the Word of God and receptivity
to the sermons that are preached by the new pastor.
DAY 19
Scripture Reading:
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your
souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy
and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.
Hebrews 13:17
Prayer Prompts: Pray for your future pastor to faithfully shepherd Bow
Valley and for members of our church to willingly and joyfully place
themselves under his servant leadership.
DAY 20
Scripture Reading:
I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I,
the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.” Joshua 1:9
Prayer Prompts: Pray for each member of the search team to have an
overwhelming sense of God's presence and guidance as they work through
the steps of the pastor search process.
DAY 21
Scripture Reading:
by making your ear attentive to wisdom,
and by turning your heart to understanding,
indeed, if you call out for discernment—
raise your voice for understanding—
if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure,
then you will understand how to fear the Lord,
and you will discover knowledge about God.
For the Lord gives wisdom,
and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:2-6
Prayer Prompts: Pray for your future pastor to seek God's wisdom in
every area of life and decision making.
Pray for the search team to be attentive to the Lord's wisdom.
DAY 22
Scripture Reading:
Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come
from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside
you? You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you
cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do
not ask; you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you
can spend it on your passions. Adulterers, do you not know that
friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever
decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. Or do
you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that
God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”? But he gives
greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives
grace to the humble.” So submit to God. But resist the devil and he
will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you
double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into
mourning and your joy into despair. Humble yourselves before the
Lord and he will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brothers
and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow
believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge
the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge. But there is only
one who is lawgiver and judge—the one who is able to save and
destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your
neighbor? James 4:1-12
Prayer Prompts: Pray for church members to humble themselves before
the Lord and seek His cleansing power in order for revival to come.
Pray for the search team to continually submit to God's will.
DAY 23
Scripture Reading:
“I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who
believe in me through their testimony, that they will all be one, just as
you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us,
so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to
me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one— I
in them and you in me—that they may be completely one, so that the
world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as
you have loved me.
John 17:20-23
Prayer Prompts: Pray for Bow Valley to be unified so that the world will be
impacted with the gospel and the Father will be glorified.
Pray for the search team to be unified in their decision making.
DAY 24
Scripture Reading:
Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker
who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth
accurately. 2 Timothy 2:15
Prayer Prompts: Pray for a pastor who is able to rightly divide the Word of
God.
Pray for the search team as they listen to sermons of potential pastoral
candidates.
DAY 25
Scripture Reading:
‘Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and
mysterious things which you still do not know about.’ Jeremiah 33:3
Prayer Prompts: Pray that a burden for deep and urgent prayer permeates
our church not only as you seek God's will for a pastor, but also as you seek
God's vision for Bow Valley.
DAY 26
Scripture Reading:
This saying is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of
overseer, he desires a good work.” The overseer then must be above
reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled,
respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, not a drunkard, not violent,
but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. He must
manage his own household well and keep his children in control
without losing his dignity. But if someone does not know how to
manage his own household, how will he care for the church of
God? He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant
and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact. And he must be
well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into
disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap. 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Prayer Prompts: Pray for your next pastor to be a man who exhibits
Christ-like character both publicly and privately.
Pray for your future pastor's family as they transition to a new field of
ministry.
DAY 27
Scripture Reading:
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if
someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the
Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. And to all these
virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. Let the peace of Christ be
in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this
peace), and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. And
whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:12-17
Prayer Prompts: Pray for Bow Valley to grow in love toward one another.
Pray for unresolved conflict to be worked out and for reconciliation among
any broken relationships in the church.
DAY 28
Scripture Reading:
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love for all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you
when I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and
revelation in your growing knowledge of him, —since the eyes of your
heart have been enlightened—so that you may know what is the hope
of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the
saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us
who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense
strength. This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from
the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far
above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every
name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to
come. And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and he gave him to
the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the
fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23
Prayer Prompts: Pray for your future pastor to grow in the wisdom and
knowledge of Christ.
Pray for Bow Valley to look to Christ as the Head of the body.
DAY 29
Scripture Reading:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following:
“This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the originator of God’s creation: ‘I know your deeds, that you
are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! So
because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to
vomit you out of my mouth! Because you say, “I am rich and have
acquired great wealth, and need nothing,” but do not realize that you
are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, take my advice and buy
gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me
white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will
not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can
see! All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and
repent! Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone
hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and
share a meal with him, and he with me. I will grant the one who
conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too
conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. The one who
has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Revelation 3:14-22
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the church to fight against lukewarm spirituality.
Pray church members repent of a lukewarm spirituality and become filled
with a zeal for Jesus and His Kingdom work.
DAY 30
Scripture Reading:
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the
sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the fresh and living way that he
inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and
since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near
with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we
have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our
bodies washed in pure water. And let us hold unwaveringly to the
hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is
trustworthy. And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to
love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are
in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so
because you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:19-25
Prayer Prompts: Pray for Bow Valley to be committed to biblical worship.
Pray for the search team to be confident that they are following God's will as
they make decisions regarding our future pastor.
DAY 31
Scripture Reading:
So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one
who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among
you: Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising
oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not
for shameful profit but eagerly. And do not lord it over those
entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. Then when the Chief
Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades
away. 1 Peter 5:1-4
Prayer Prompts: Pray that our future pastor shepherds Bow Valley in a
biblical and Christ-exalting manner.
Pray for our future pastor's walk with Christ.
DAY 32
Scripture Reading:
In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And
all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 And
God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his
mighty hand 7 by casting all your cares on him because he cares for
you.1 Peter 5:5-7
Prayer Prompts: Pray for mutual respect and humility between our church
and our future pastor.
Pray for Bow Valley to follow the leadership of our future pastor.
DAY 33
Scripture Reading:
Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the
prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in your faith,
because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world
are enduring the same kinds of suffering.1 Peter 5:8-9
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the search team to remain humble before God
and that they will not be anxious, but trust God's leadership.
Pray that Bow Valley will stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
DAY 34
Scripture Reading:
Therefore be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as
wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are
evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the search team to make wise use of their time
during their meetings.
Pray for the Lord to reveal His will to our future pastor.
DAY 35
Scripture Reading:
Seek the Lord while he makes himself available;
call to him while he is nearby!
The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle
and sinful people their plans.
They should return to the Lord,
and he will show mercy to them,
and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.
“Indeed, my plans are not like your plans,
and my deeds are not like your deeds, for just as the sky is higher than the earth,
so my deeds are superior to your deeds
and my plans superior to your plans. Isaiah 55:6-9
Prayer Prompts: Pray that in times of discouragement, the search team
and the church will seek the Lord diligently and have confidence that He is at
work bringing the church and future pastor together.
DAY 36
Scripture Reading:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical
body—for the sake of his body, the church—what is lacking in the
sufferings of Christ. I became a servant of the church according to the
stewardship from God—given to me for you—in order to complete the
word of God, that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages
and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints. God wanted
to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the
Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him by
instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may
present every person mature in Christ. Toward this goal I also labor,
struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.
Colossians 1:24-29
Prayer Prompts: Pray that when the time comes to extend a call to our
next pastor, God will make it unmistakably clear to the future pastor and
church.
Pray for the Lord to work powerfully in Bow Valley to make disciples.
DAY 37
Scripture Reading:
And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind
toward all, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with
gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then
knowledge of the truth and they will come to their senses and escape
the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the search team to discern if potential pastoral
candidates possess the biblical qualities of a servant of the Lord.
Pray for Bow Valley to affirm these qualities in their future pastor.
DAY 38
Scripture Reading:
So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will
reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Prayer Prompts: Pray for the search team to not grow weary in their
work.
Pray that the search team and our church will be able to see God's hand at
work bringing us together with our future pastor.
DAY 39
Scripture Reading:
Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort
provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or
mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the
same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Instead of
being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in
humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than
yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own
interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have
the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who
though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the
form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human
nature.
He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —
even death on a cross!
As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is
above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will
bow —in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11
Prayer Prompts: Pray that Christ's attitude of humility and servanthood
permeates both the search team and the church during the pastor search
process.
DAY 40
Scripture Reading:
Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Prayer Prompts: Pray for Bow Valley to be a Great Commission church
that makes disciples.
Pray that our future pastor will be a Great Commission leader.