Equipping

By Justin Jeppesen

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

Hebrews 13:17-21

¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. ¹⁸Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. ¹⁹I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. ²⁰Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, ²¹equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Leadership & Equipping Prayer Guide

Reverence

Identify and celebrate God’s praiseworthy attributes

God sovereignly provides church leaders to watch over our souls (v. 17)
He is the God of peace (v. 20)
He has resurrection power (v. 20)
Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the Sheep (v. 20)
He equips us with everything we need to do His will (v. 21)
Jesus is eternally glorious (v.21)

Prayer Prompts

Jesus, I praise You that because You are my Great Shepherd…
Thank you for how Your resurrection power worked through… (church leader) to equip me to…
Great Shepherd, thank You for how… (church leader) kept watch over my soul when …

Response

Surrender to Him and His ways

Jesus, I admit that instead of obeying the leaders you have placed in my life, I…
I confess I find it hard to submit to my church leaders when…

Requests

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

God, please give Your peace to… (church leader) as they face…
Great Shepherd, equip…(church leader) with the good of… so that…
Lord, please keep…(church leader) conscience clear to act honorably as they…
Please help our church leaders joyfully equip the Church to…

Readiness

Encouragement and strength for spiritual battle

Jesus, work within our church leaders that which is pleasing in Your sight, especially when they’re tempted to…
Antiphonal Response: “To Christ be the glory forever and ever. Amen!”

*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.