Opening Prayer for a Church Meeting — sacred illustration
✶ Our Bible Moments No. 265 / 272

Church & Ministry

Opening Prayer for a Church Meeting

James 3:17-18

James 3:17-18 is from the letter of James to believers scattered abroad, where he sets the selfish wisdom that breeds disorder against the peace-loving wisdom that comes from above.

Lord, we can’t lead Your church on our own wisdom, so we ask for the wisdom from above: pure, peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Keep jealousy and selfish ambition out of this room. Help us listen before we speak and disagree with grace. Make us peacemakers who sow in peace. Guide each decision we make today, and let it serve Your people and honor Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

James 3:17-18 is from the letter of James to believers scattered abroad, where he sets the selfish wisdom that breeds disorder against the peace-loving wisdom that comes from above.

The Scripture

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.”

— James 3:17-18

Prayer points from James 3:17-18

  1. Admit to God that you need wisdom beyond your own.
  2. Ask Him for the wisdom from above: pure, peace-loving and gentle.
  3. Pray against jealousy, selfish ambition and taking sides.
  4. Ask for humility to listen well and to change your mind when you should.
  5. Pray to be peacemakers who sow in peace, even when you disagree.
  6. Ask God to guide each decision for the good of His people and the honor of Christ.

About this verse

James writes about the way believers talk and the way they lead. Chapter 3 opens with a warning to teachers and goes on to the power of the tongue. Then he asks, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” Real wisdom, he says, shows itself “by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” He names the counterfeit plainly: “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition,” which bring “disorder and every evil practice.” Against that he sets the wisdom from above, which is “first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.” Every church board, council and committee knows how quickly a meeting can slide into the first kind: winning the argument, guarding turf, taking sides. James ends with words worth praying over any meeting: “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.” This prayer is for whoever opens a church council, board, committee, staff or business meeting in prayer, and it is short enough for the top of any agenda.

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