Lord, you have called me to be a church planting
wife. The task before us is great and at times overwhelming, but I know this
work is worth it—You are worth it— and I trust You will somehow use us in our
city.
Lord, I want to do this well, but I don’t know how
to be a good church planting wife. I find myself wanting a task list or trying
to play the role I think I’m supposed to play. I know, however, that more than
anything else, You want my heart. Help me to keep a soft heart before You and
to joyfully embrace this calling.
Let me know Your voice, Father, so that as You
lead, I can follow. Where You ask me to sow, I will sow, and then I will trust
You to bring fruit from those seeds as You see fit. You are the Grower. You are
the Vine. My job as a church planting wife is simply to depend on You.
Lord, help me to help my husband, not hinder his
work. Root out resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, or anything else that
turns my heart away from him, from our together calling, and, as a result, from
You.
Father, I crave friendship just as much as the
women we serve but sometimes I feel alone. You are a good gift-giver. I ask
that as I initiate relationships, You would give me the gift of friendship. When
I try to blame church planting or use ministry as an excuse to isolate myself,
stop me. Give me courage to lay down my title as the pastor’s wife and reveal
myself to safe women, and not just reveal myself but depend on others and share
my needs with them.
Church planting is really hard and, Father, You
know that sometimes I fight against the sacrifice that is required of me. If
I’m honest, there are times that I want this whole thing to be about me and my
own comfort. Oh Lord! Crucify my selfishness; I believe dying to myself results
in the full, abundant Christ-life, but I need You to move me there every single
day.
Lord, the fear and stress threaten to overtake me. There
is so much uncertainty. Create a Joshua heart in me, one that is strong and
courageous because You are with me and because Your promises are true.
Finally, Lord, help my eyes remain on You. May my
validation and the power for my ministry come only from You, not from any
standards I place on myself or any I think others place on me. Help me not to
love accomplishments, results, or pats on the back. Help me to love people well,
but to love Your pleasure alone.
