We see in some of the epistles that Paul is praying for the church to whom he is writing and identifies with them strongly. For example, in his epistle to the Romans he says "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness...that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers..." (Romans 1:8-9 English Standard Version). In another epistle to the Corinthians he states "I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus." (1 Corinthians 1:4 ESV). So we too should follow Paul's example and pray for our local churches and the local bodies of Christ. We should also take an active interest in the Church (the whole body of saints) as King David does, declaring "As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." (Psalm 16:3 ESV). We are all members of the same body and so when we pray for one another we are in a sense really praying for ourselves and also to and for the glory of Jesus Christ our lord.
*To help assist in efforts to pray for the saints I have drafted some prayers (also where I felt appropriate just reproduced) that Paul prayed for the various churches that can be used as a template. I pray these are dispersed to all the churches in the dispersion!
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Benedictions
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."(Romans 1:7 English Standard Version).
"Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible." (Ephesians 6:23-24 ESV)
"[M]ay the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all." (Thessalonians 3:16 ESV)
Thanksgivings
Thanksgiving for the Faith of the Church
I thank God through the Lord Jesus Christ for the faith of the saints [my church]. (Romans 1:8 ESV)
Thanksgiving for Grace Bestowed Upon the Church
I thank God though the Lord Jesus Christ for the grace that has been given to the saints [my church]. (1 Corinthians 1:4 ESV)
Blessings
Prayer for Wisdom
I pray that in every way the saints[my church] are enriched in all speech and knowledge so that they are lacking in no good gift. (1 Corinthians 1:5-7 ESV)
I pray that the Heavenly Father may give all of the saints [my church] the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having all of our hearts enlightened, that we may know the hope to which we are called, the riches of our glorious inheritance and the immeasurable greatness of the Lord's power toward us who believe. (1 Ephesians 1:17-19 ESV)
I pray that the saints [my church] be filled with the knowledge of the will of the Lord Jesus Christ in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to the Lord's glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:12 ESV)
Prayer for Strength
I pray that all of the saints be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit in their inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith, so that they may be firmly rooted, grounded in love, having the strength to understand the breadth, length, height and depth of it and to know that love of Christ which surpasses all understanding, so that they may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 4:16-19 ESV)
Prayer for Love
I pray that the love of the saints [my church] abounds more and more, with all knowledge and discernment, that we may approve what is excellent and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11 ESV)
Other
I pray the Word of God speed ahead and be honored throughout the Body of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:1 ESV).
*This is not an exhaustive list but I hope this helps provide some good material.
*To help assist in efforts to pray for the saints I have drafted some prayers (also where I felt appropriate just reproduced) that Paul prayed for the various churches that can be used as a template. I pray these are dispersed to all the churches in the dispersion!
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Benedictions
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."(Romans 1:7 English Standard Version).
"Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible." (Ephesians 6:23-24 ESV)
"[M]ay the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all." (Thessalonians 3:16 ESV)
Thanksgivings
Thanksgiving for the Faith of the Church
I thank God through the Lord Jesus Christ for the faith of the saints [my church]. (Romans 1:8 ESV)
Thanksgiving for Grace Bestowed Upon the Church
I thank God though the Lord Jesus Christ for the grace that has been given to the saints [my church]. (1 Corinthians 1:4 ESV)
Blessings
Prayer for Wisdom
I pray that in every way the saints[my church] are enriched in all speech and knowledge so that they are lacking in no good gift. (1 Corinthians 1:5-7 ESV)
I pray that the Heavenly Father may give all of the saints [my church] the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having all of our hearts enlightened, that we may know the hope to which we are called, the riches of our glorious inheritance and the immeasurable greatness of the Lord's power toward us who believe. (1 Ephesians 1:17-19 ESV)
I pray that the saints [my church] be filled with the knowledge of the will of the Lord Jesus Christ in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to the Lord's glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:12 ESV)
Prayer for Strength
I pray that all of the saints be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit in their inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith, so that they may be firmly rooted, grounded in love, having the strength to understand the breadth, length, height and depth of it and to know that love of Christ which surpasses all understanding, so that they may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 4:16-19 ESV)
Prayer for Love
I pray that the love of the saints [my church] abounds more and more, with all knowledge and discernment, that we may approve what is excellent and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11 ESV)
Other
I pray the Word of God speed ahead and be honored throughout the Body of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:1 ESV).
*This is not an exhaustive list but I hope this helps provide some good material.
