Attitude and Character

By Justin Jeppesen

This prayer guide, inspired by the chapter titled Attitude and Character in Strategic Renewal’s resource 21 Days of Prayer for Your Church Leader, is focused on seeking God’s face through the following passage.

1 Timothy 3:1-13

3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ²Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, ⁵for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? ⁶He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

⁸Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ¹¹Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. ¹²Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. ¹³For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Attitude & Character Prayer Guide

Reverence

Identify and celebrate God’s praiseworthy attributes

Jesus is the full embodiment of every qualification of church leadership (vv 1-13)
God’s word and character is trustworthy (v. 1)
Is the overseer and owner of His Church (v. 5)
Blameless and faithful in all things (vv. 10-11)
Giver of confident faith (v. 13)

Prayer Prompts

Jesus, I praise You for embodying the character of godliness by…
Thank you for how…(church leader) has displayed godly character in the way they…
Lord, Your Word concerning our attitude and character is always trustworthy because…

Response

Surrender to Him and His ways

Lord Jesus, I confess that I have lacked godly character in… and please help me to …
I repent of being puffed up with conceit when…

Requests

Ask the Spirit to guide prayer over concerns, resources, and relationships

Lord, may…(church leader) have holy aspirations in their role of leadership so that…
Lord, help…(church leader) to be…(list specific qualifications from vv.1-13) as they…
Jesus, we pray for…(name your local church) that we could have leaders known for…

Readiness

Encouragement and strength for spiritual battle

Jesus, please keep our church leaders humble, especially as they face…

*this prayer guide is an excerpt from the appendix of 21 Day of Praying for Your Church Leaders, by Strategic Renewal. Click HERE for more information on this resource.