Every now and again I like to share an example of a pastoral prayer from Grace Fellowship Church. I do this because I think sharing such prayers is a way we can learn from one another. At least, I can attest that I have often been inspired as I have read other people’s prayers and they have often taught me to pray. To that end, here is a prayer I prayed on Labor Day Sunday. (Note that the final paragraph is drawn from J.I. Packer.) Our Father, on this weekend work and labor are much on our minds. We thank you that you are the God who worked, the God who labored for six days to create this world and all that is in it. Thank you that you then invited us to join you in this work, inviting us to fill the earth and subdue it and exercise dominion over it. You gave us purpose—you called us to work. So I pray, Lord, that we would be diligent in the labor you’ve called us. You’ve called some of us to labor in offices or factories or warehouses and I pray that each of us would do our work as if you are right there watching us. Let us render heart service and not just eye service. You’ve called some of us to labor in the classroom, to learn and grow and in that way prepare for a life dedicated to you and your purposes. We pray that the students among us would be diligent … Continue reading A Pastoral Prayer About Labor and Rest