It is a joyous occasion when the church gathers to pray and worship the Lord. Christians attending the church are hopeful that they will feel the Lord’s presence and that God will speak to them during the service.
The opening prayer for the worship service sets the stage and encourages everyone to be ready to hear the Lord’s message.
As the leader leading the opening prayer, you must be mindful of the theme; if there’s one so, you can prepare the congregation to be receptive to the message.
Here are some examples you can adapt to your worship services and prayer gatherings.
Let us pray.
Prayers
Prayers
Prayer To Open Worship Service
Eternal Father in Heaven, we stand before You as Your church and Your holy nation, humble before Your awesome presence.
We come to You boldly through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. You said that whenever two or three are gathered in Your Name, there You will be. We humbly ask that You fill this place with Your presence.
Fill every corner, every space, every heart in this room with Your Holy Spirit.
We know that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective, yet we claim no righteousness of our own other than the righteousness of our Lord Jesus.
Thank You, Lord, for gathering us safely in this place. You are our Rock, our Strong Tower, and our Firm Foundation. Surround this place with Your power, Lord. Let no evil enter this place, and embrace everyone with Your loving presence.
We pray for those who cannot come to worship today. No distance is too great for You, Lord. Reach out to them and extend Your protection and love. Heal those who are sick with Your precious blood. Renew their strength and remove their ailments so that they, too, can worship You with vigor and strength.
We pray for those who cannot worship You out in the open. Thank You for the freedom that You have given us to praise and glorify Your Name in public. May You always protect Your people who are advancing Your Kingdom in the most unwelcome places in this world.
Your people lift up their worries and problems to You, Lord. They lay their burdens on the feet of Jesus. You said, Lord that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. Free their hearts and minds of anything that can distract them from Your message. Allow them to focus on You alone at this moment.
Anoint the speaker today and pour out Your Spirit of wisdom and knowledge. Let them speak the truth with power and love. Speak to each and every one who is here, Lord, for they hunger for Your message.
Let Your word pierce their hearts and minds. Let it take root deep within them, and may it transform them according to Your will. Let their hearts be glad and rejoice in Your guidance. as they eagerly await Your message today.
We praise and glorify You, o Eternal God, in Jesus’ Name we pray. And God’s people said, “Amen!”.
You can also offer an opening prayers for church services.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! – Psalm 95:6
Short Opening Prayer For Worship Service
Father in Heaven, we gather here today to praise and worship You. Thank You for bringing us safely to this place.
You said that whenever two or three are gathered in Your name, there You will be in our midst. We ask, Lord, for an outpouring of Your spirit. Fill us with Your presence, Lord. Fill us with Your love.
Anoint the speaker with Your Spirit. May they deliver Your message with such conviction and power that Your people will be moved to take heed and act on Your message. May Your message take root in their hearts as they listen intently to Your guidance.
Be with us today. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. – Isaiah 12:5
Opening Prayer For Sunday Worship Service
Lord God, look upon Your people with favor as we gather today to praise and worship You as one church.
You said that whenever two or three are gathered in Your name, there You will be, so fill this place with Your presence. Let the train of Your robe touch every space and every heart in this place.
Let Your message be delivered today with power and conviction. Open the ears and hearts of Your people so they may heed and act on Your message. May Your message go deep in their hearts as they listen intently to Your Word.
May Your holy presence be with us today. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. – Romans 12:1
Opening Prayer For Sunday Service With Bible Verses
Lord Jesus, You said in Matthew 18: 19-20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
We claim this promise, Lord, so fill this place with Your presence. Touch every heart with Your Spirit. Open their eyes and ears so that they may discern clearly Your personal guidance for their lives.
Psalm 98:4 says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”
Let their mouths sing loudly of Your greatness and goodness in their lives. Allow them to honor You and glorify Your name in song freely.
May Your holy presence be with us today as we praise and worship. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. – Deuteronomy 10:21
Opening Prayer For Fellowship
Lord God, We praise You and glorify Your name. Thank You for gathering us in this place. As we spend time in fellowship, may we enjoy each other’s presence as You move through each one of us.
Bless this gathering, and let us speak the truth to one another in love. Bless the food that we will partake in; may it make our stomachs full just as Your Spirit makes our hearts full.
We lift up everything to You, Lord, in Jesus’s name. Amen.
We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. – Psalms 75:1
Opening Prayer For Prayer Meeting
Father God, may Your name be glorified throughout all the earth. You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We come before You humbled and ask for Your presence in our prayer meeting.
Move in our hearts and free us to speak to each other with grace and love. May You lead us with wisdom as we meditate on Your Word. Thank You for the message that You are about to reveal to each one of us.
We thank You in advance for hearing our prayer in Jesus’s name. Amen.
After the meeting, remember to close in prayer too. Here are some examples of closing prayers for Bible study.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. – Colossians 3:16
Morning Worship Opening Prayer
O Loving Father, we praise You this morning. Thank You that Your mercies are new each morning. As the morning light shines through the earth, may Your light shine brighter.
We acknowledge Your greatness, and our words are not enough to describe how awesome and how great our God is.
We remember Your faithfulness every day. As sure as the sun rises, so does the love of God shine on each and everyone who calls on His Name.
We honor You and praise You this morning, in Jesus’s name. Amen.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, – Hebrews 12:28
Short Opening Prayer Before Meeting
Heavenly Father, we come before You seeking Your heart and Your will as we study Your Word.
May we come to know You more deeply as You reveal more of Yourself in this meeting. Speak to us, Lord and guide our interactions with each other.
We honor You in Jesus’s name. Amen.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. – John 4:23
Prayer Submission
Have your opening prayer for a worship service submitted all over the world: