5 Prayer Requests For Those Listening To Preaching
Preachers aren’t the only people who need to pray prior to the preaching of God’s word. Every Christian should spend time in prayer before sitting under a sermon. If your pastor is a faithful Bible teacher then each week you have the opportunity to hear God speak in a heart-altering, life-changing manner. This should be taken seriously and prepared for properly.
If you want the most out of the next sermon you listen to, here are five prayer requests for those listening to preaching:
1. Soften my heart.
The human heart, when left to itself, is hardened by sin. In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes seed that falls on a hard path. Because the seed has nowhere to go, birds come and snatch up the seed. When your heart is hard, the Bible hits it like a brick wall. Ask God to soften your heart to receive what He has for you.
2. Convict me of sin.
Nobody gets fired up about being confronted with their sin. Yet Psalm 51:17 says,
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Conviction of sin may not feel good but it’s crucial to our growth. Facing sin is the first step to repenting of it, so pray that God would use His word to convict you of your sin.
3. Grant me discernment.
I wish I could say that all preaching was faithful preaching. Sadly, much that is labeled “preaching” is at best silly and at worst, satanic. Furthermore, even faithful Bible teachers are imperfect and capable of mistakes. Paul praised the Christians at Berea for listening to preaching and “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). We need more of this. We need to read God’s word for ourselves daily and then ask Him to grant us discernment as we hear His word preached.
4. Strengthen my faith.
Few things will strengthen your faith like a good sermon. Paul said, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). If you’re struggling with doubt, battling unbelief, or wrestling to trust God, hearing the word of God is your greatest hope. Each Sunday as you prepare for worship, pray that God would use His word to strengthen your faith.
5. Help me obey.
A head full of Biblical-knowledge is great. A life marked by Biblical-obedience is better. In John 13:17 Jesus said, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” We need God’s Spirit to empower our obedience.
Gathered worship in general, and Bible-preaching in particular, is an amazing gift from a gracious God. God wants to work in our lives. He wants to save. He wants to help. He wants to change. His desire is never in question, but ours is.
Don’t let this be another Sunday of sloppy preparation. Instead, pray and ask God to do in you all that He has in mind for you.
