Rescue .. Heal .. Transform .. Rebuild

Scotty Smith:  A Prayer for the Gospel to Run “Wild” in Our Churches

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. Col. 1:3-6

Gracious Father, we bring our church families before you today… with their brokenness and beauty; frustrations and fruit; drama and doxology. It’s not only a privilege but a necessity to pray without ceasing for one another in the body of Christ. For until the day Jesus returns, the church is your chosen means for revealing your glory, lavishing your grace, and advancing your kingdom. No wonder she is constantly being assailed by the world and assaulted by darkness.

In harmony with Paul’s prayer, we ask you to inundate, saturate, and liberate our churches with the gospel of your transforming grace—new church plants and aging communities alike. May the gospel run “wild” and wide. There’s no other story, power, motivation, or resources adequate for the calling you’ve given your beloved people. Infuse the DNA of the gospel into everything we are and do.

Deepen and strengthen our faith in Jesus—for he is the Lord and center of the gospel. It’s not the size of our faith but the object of our faith that matters most, so keep revealing more of his mercy and majesty to us. Help us boast in his work, not ours. May the name of Jesus be the most heard, loved, and trusted name in our churches.

Help us to love one another as Jesus loves us—the surest and most necessary mark of our discipleship. For your glory, fill our hearts with his compassion. By your mercy and grace, give us love for all the saints—not just those who are mirror images of ourselves. Tear down our divisions. Rescue us from our prejudices. Heal our wounds. Transform our conflicts. Rebuild bruised and broken trust. May we never get used to loving poorly.

By the hope-filled gospel, liberate our time, talents and treasure for the work of your kingdom, in our cities and among the nations. May the gospel bear fresh and lasting fruit, in us and through us. May we be like well-watered gardens in our cities—offering much needed nourishment to many. By the irrepressible gospel, revive us, transform us, and free us for your sovereign and saving purposes. So very Amen we pray, with longing hearts in Jesus’ exalted name.