Pastor Steven Furtick shared his “pregame” ritual this week during his preaching marathon.  I thought I would share with you guys what I pray every Sunday before I preach.  It varies a little but it goes something like this…

Lord, please help me to walk in my full anointing.  Please help me to also walk in a fresh anointing.  Help me to be the man you’ve called me to be and the man of God you’ve called me to be.  Help me to walk in the strength that comes from your call on my life.

Father, please cleanse me hands, feet, head and heart.  Please cleanse my feet of the things I’ve picked up from this world as I’ve walked through it this week.  Please cleanse my hands that I might serve before you.  Please cleanse my head that I might have the mind of Christ.  And, please cleanse my heart that I would be pure before you and devoted completely to you.

Father, please give me your words to speak.  Please help me to be inspiring, captivating, compelling, convicting and challenging.  Help me to speak in such a way that your words and thoughts penetrate hearts and change lives.

Above all, Lord, please help me to love you and to love these people.  Please let them walk away impressed with you and please let them sense your love flowing through me to them.

Lord, please help me to remember that this is not an audience to be feared but a family to be loved. Please help them feel your love.

I also have another prayer I pray for the service as a whole, the ministry teams and our entire campus.  I usually pray that just before the service or during the first worship song.

Pastors, what do you pray before you preach?