{"id":755,"date":"2025-09-22T00:08:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T07:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/?p=755"},"modified":"2025-09-21T21:48:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T04:48:33","slug":"september-22-ask-seek-knock-pray-for-gods-blessing-on-your-church-and-church-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-22-ask-seek-knock-pray-for-gods-blessing-on-your-church-and-church-family\/","title":{"rendered":"SEPTEMBER 22\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Pray for God\u2019s Blessing on your Church and Church Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

” <\/sup>And\u00a0they devoted themselves to the apostles’\u00a0teaching and the\u00a0fellowship, to\u00a0the breaking of bread and the prayers.<\/span> \u00a0And awe came upon every soul, and\u00a0many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.<\/span> \u00a0And all who believed were together and\u00a0had all things in common.<\/span> \u00a0<\/sup>And\u00a0they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.<\/span> \u00a0<\/sup>And day by day,\u00a0attending the temple\u00a0together and\u00a0breaking bread in their homes, they received their food\u00a0with glad and generous hearts,<\/span> praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/em> Acts 2:42-47 ESV<\/p>\n

Today we are praying for our church and church family.\u00a0 As believers we should be doing this daily.
\nI came across an article online written by Jonathan Leeman, an elder at Cheverly Baptist Church in suburban Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u00a0 His article was titled \u201c18 Things to Pray for Your Church\u201d and he encouraged sharing it with others, so that is what I am doing today.\u00a0 Let\u2019s all pray some or all of these 18 things for our churches today and every day.<\/p>\n

18 Things to Pray For Your Church<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. That we would have unity amid diversity\u2014loving those with whom we have nothing in common but the gospel.<\/li>\n
  2. That a culture of discipling would form in which making disciples is viewed as an ordinary part of the Christian life.<\/li>\n
  3. That faithful elders would use Scripture to train members to do the work of ministry.<\/li>\n
  4. That a hunger for studying the gospel would form among members so that they can guide and guard one another in it.<\/li>\n
  5. That transparent, meaningful relationships would become normal and remaining anonymous strange.<\/li>\n
  6. The preaching of God\u2019s Word\u2014that it would be biblically careful and Holy Spirit imbued.<\/li>\n
  7. That elders would remain above reproach, kept from temptation, complacency, idols, and worldliness.<\/li>\n
  8. That the church\u2019s songs would teach members to biblically confess, lament, and praise.<\/li>\n
  9. That the church\u2019s prayers would be infused with biblical ambitions, honesty, and humility.<\/li>\n
  10. That adult members would work to disciple teenagers and not just leave it to programming.<\/li>\n
  11. That the church\u2019s primary teachers grow in dedication to God\u2019s Word even when no one\u2019s watching.<\/li>\n
  12. That it would grow in being distinct from the world in love and holiness, even as it engages outsiders.<\/li>\n
  13. That members would share the gospel this week\u2014and see more conversions!<\/li>\n
  14. That members would be prepared for persecution, remembering to love, not curse, their persecutors.<\/li>\n
  15. That hopes for political change would be outstretched by the hope of heaven.<\/li>\n
  16. That giving would be faithful, as well as joyful, consistent, and sacrificial.<\/li>\n
  17. That more members would use their careers to take the gospel to places it\u2019s never been.<\/li>\n
  18. That members would be good and do good in their workplaces this week.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u201cCan you think of something I didn\u2019t include? Then pray it and share it! This is hardly the \u201cofficial list\u201d of the 18 most important things to pray.
    \nThey\u2019re simply what one guy thought of while sitting in his office chair.
    \nThe point is for all of us to start praying more intentionally for our churches, and to encourage others to do the same.\u201d
    \n–Jonathan Leeman 4\/4\/2016<\/em>\u00a0 (to view the complete article visit: 18 Things to Pray for Your Church (thegospelcoalition.org)<\/a><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \u00a92023 SGLY Ministry\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>www.smilegodlovesyou.org<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    ” And\u00a0they devoted themselves to the apostles’\u00a0teaching and the\u00a0fellowship, to\u00a0the breaking of bread and the prayers. \u00a0And awe came upon every soul, and\u00a0many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. \u00a0And all who believed were together and\u00a0had all things in common. \u00a0And\u00a0they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[948],"tags":[1154,365,949,3,1152,1153,1149,1150,1155,3308,30,32,1151],"class_list":["post-755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ask-seek-knock","tag-18-things-to-pray-for-your-church","tag-acts-246-47","tag-ask-seek-knock","tag-daily-devotionals","tag-fellowship","tag-jonathan-leeman","tag-pray-for-your-church","tag-pray-for-your-church-family","tag-prayer-for-church","tag-september-2025","tag-sgly-ministry","tag-smile-god-loves-you","tag-worship"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-Acts-246-47.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":711,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-9-ask-seek-knock-prayer-for-missionaries\/","url_meta":{"origin":755,"position":0},"title":"SEPTEMBER 9\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014 Prayer for Missionaries","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"And He said to them, \u201cGo into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.\u00a0 Mark 16:15 Today we will focus on praying for Missionaries, those who are near to us or far from us.\u00a0 Those brothers or sisters in Christ whom we might know personally, or those\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ask-Seek-Knock"","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-9-Mark-1615.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":728,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-14-ask-seek-knock-prayer-for-our-families\/","url_meta":{"origin":755,"position":1},"title":"SEPTEMBER 14\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Prayer for Our Families","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"... a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.\u00a0 Mark 3:25 Today our prayers are for our families, immediate families, distant families, church families and friends and neighbor\u2019s families and any other families that come to mind. If we stop to think about it we may know many different people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ask-Seek-Knock"","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-Mark-325.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":767,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-26-ask-seek-knock-pray-for-new-believers\/","url_meta":{"origin":755,"position":2},"title":"SEPTEMBER 26\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Pray for New Believers","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus...\u00a0 Colossians 1:3-4 The Parable of the Sower-- Luke 8:4-8 \u201cA sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ask-Seek-Knock"","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-Colossians-13-4.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":752,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-21-ask-seek-knock-pray-for-revival-in-this-generation\/","url_meta":{"origin":755,"position":3},"title":"SEPTEMBER 21\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Pray for Revival in This Generation","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Will You not revive us and bring us to life again, That Your people may rejoice in You?\u00a0 Psalm 85:6 Today we are praying for revival in this generation.\u00a0 We should be praying for this daily, so let\u2019s focus on this today and then make it a point to pray\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ask-Seek-Knock"","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-Psalm-856-.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":780,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-30-ask-seek-knock-pray-for-an-alert-mind-and-a-thankful-heart\/","url_meta":{"origin":755,"position":4},"title":"SEPTEMBER 30\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014Pray For an Alert Mind and a Thankful Heart","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 30, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2 Today we are praying for ourselves, that we might devote ourselves to prayer, and have an alert mind, and a thankful heart. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ask-Seek-Knock"","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-Colossians-42.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":621,"url":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/september-2-ask-seek-knock-prayer-for-christian-leaders\/","url_meta":{"origin":755,"position":5},"title":"SEPTEMBER 2\u2014ASK-SEEK-KNOCK\u2014 Prayer for Christian Leaders","author":"SGLY Devotionals","date":"September 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I urge you, believers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join together with me in your prayers to God in my\u00a0behalf, Romans 15:30 Today let\u2019s pray for our Christian Leaders, our Pastor, Sunday School Teachers, Bible Study Leaders, Bible College Instructors, and\/or any\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ask-Seek-Knock"","block_context":{"text":"Ask-Seek-Knock","link":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/category\/ask-seek-knock\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ASK-SEEK-KNOCK-2-Romans-1530.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=755"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2292,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755\/revisions\/2292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smilegodlovesyou.org\/devotionals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}