As believers, one of our deepest desires is to live a life that brings glory to God and advances His kingdom through the work of ministry. The Bible calls us to surrender our plans, talents, and time to God’s purposes, trusting Him to use us as vessels for His glory. By praying intentionally, we invite God to shape our lives for His divine work, whether through sharing the Gospel, serving others, or reflecting Christ’s love.
A couple of my favorite verses to pray are Matthew 6:10 and Ephesians 3:14-17, because they guide me into prayerful surrender and place God in control. Although I don’t subscribe to praying someone else’s written prayers, it’s been powerfully instructive for me to learn from those who pray God’s Word. Learning from others has significantly empowered my prayer life. This devotional offers a brief explanation of the two scriptures and demonstrates a prayer with the particular aim of aligning our hearts with God’s desire to live for His glory.
Matthew 6:10:“Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.”
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He included this profound petition that captures the heart of a life devoted to God’s glory. Praying for God’s will to be done is an act of surrender, acknowledging that His plans are perfect and far greater than our own. It’s a call to align our lives with His kingdom purposes, asking Him to use us as instruments in His redemptive work. Whether it’s through teaching, serving the needy, or living out the attitudes of Christ in our daily interactions, praying this verse invites God to direct our steps for His glory.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before You with a heart open to Your perfect plan. I pray that Your kingdom will be manifested in my life—that every thought I think, every word I say, and every work of my hand will be a manifestation of the fruit of Your Spirit and the truth of Your Word. Reveal the doors You want me to walk through and give me the strength, wisdom, and compassion to go. May every moment of my life reflect Your kingdom and bring honor to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-17: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is a beautiful plea for God’s transformative power to work within us. To be used for God’s glory and ministry, we need more than our own strength—we need the Holy Spirit’s power. We need to know how deeply our Savior loves us so we can love others well. The most effective ministry flows from a heart rooted in the love of Christ. Whether we’re leading a Bible study, comforting a hurting friend, supporting church outreach, working a secular job, or on the soccer field with other parents—God WILL equip us to reflect His glory. This prayer asks for an increase of His presence, so that others look at us and see Jesus. There is no mistaking HIS love, His wisdom, and His power! When we pray for HIS empowerment with a desire to glorify Him—God answers that prayer.
Prayer: Gracious Father, I ask that You strengthen me with power through Your Holy Spirit, for Your glory. Manifest Yourself to me so I can manifest You to those around me. Oh Lord, teach me to love You and love others the way You love me! If there is any sin darkening my life, reveal it so that I may confess and forsake it. Fill me with the fullness of Your presence, so my life is a vessel of love, hope, strength, peace, and wisdom in this dark world. May Your presence increase in me, and may I be an instrument to bring Your kingdom to the people of this earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ah, how gracious God is to give us the gifts of His Word and prayer!
My friend, God’s Word forms a powerful framework for prayer. If we want to live dedicated to God’s glory and ministry, praying God’s Word is a tool we should not neglect. When we pray the truth of God’s Word, we are utilizing the gift of supernatural faith from God, and we operate in a realm of miracles greater than we ever imagined possible. The greatest miracle is not healing or raising someone from the dead—it is when a soul surrenders to God and accepts His gift of salvation.
The eternal, precious work of God is entrusted to His children, and prayer is our greatest unseen weapon.
As we more and more commit to praying God’s Word, we invite God to shape us more into instruments of His grace. We become part of His story. He uses ordinary people to accomplish eternal, extraordinary purposes. Ask Him to lead, empower, and work through you, so that every moment of your life points others to the Savior.
