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When writing a prayer for opening worship, it’s important to begin by acknowledging God’s presence and asking for His guidance and blessing throughout the service. The prayer can also include a plea for forgiveness and an expression of gratitude for the opportunity to gather and worship together.
Opening Prayer For Worship
For a beginning prayer for worship, you can start by thanking God for His love and mercy and asking Him to help us worship Him in spirit and truth. It can also include a request for God’s guidance and protection throughout the service and for His blessings upon those who are leading and participating.
1. Invocation of Divine Presence
Almighty God, as we gather in Your name, we invoke Your divine presence. May Your Spirit descend upon us, filling this place with Your holiness. Grant us the grace to worship You in spirit and truth, and open our hearts to receive Your blessings.
Psalm 95:6-7
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”
2. Communal Call to Worship
Gracious Lord, we gather as a community to lift our voices in worship. May our collective praise rise like incense before Your throne. Unite us in love and harmony as we acknowledge Your greatness.
Psalm 95:1-3
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.”
3. Sacred Gathering Supplication
Holy God, as we gather in Your presence, we humbly seek Your guidance and grace. Bless our assembly and grant us the wisdom to worship You in spirit and truth.
James 4:8
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
4. Spiritual Commencement Petition
Divine Creator, as we begin this worship, we petition Your Spirit to lead us. Open our hearts and minds to receive Your word and fill us with the joy of Your presence.
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
5. Benediction for Worship
Merciful God, we seek Your blessing as we conclude this time of worship. Pour out Your grace upon us, and may Your peace rest upon each heart.
Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
6. Heavenly Appeal at the Onset
Heavenly Father, as we embark on this worship journey, we appeal to Your mercy and grace. Let Your presence fill this space, and may our hearts be receptive to Your divine guidance.
Psalm 143:8
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you, I entrust my life.”
7. Soulful Start to the Service
Compassionate God, as we begin this service, we offer our souls to You. Infuse our worship with sincerity and passion, and may the melodies of our praise reach Your throne.
Psalm 34:3
“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”
8. Addressing the Almighty in Worship
Sovereign Lord, as we address You in worship, we recognize Your majesty and bow before Your greatness. May our prayers and praises be a sweet aroma in Your presence.
Psalm 95:6
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
9. Consecration Invocation
Holy God, we invoke Your presence for the consecration of this worship. Set apart this time as sacred, and consecrate our hearts for a deeper connection with You.
Exodus 3:5
“‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’
10. Prelude of Praise and Prayer
Gracious Father, as we enter this prelude of praise and prayer, may our worship be a melody that resonates in Your ears. Hear our prayers and accept our praises as we lift our voices to exalt Your name.
Psalm 100:4
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
11. Opening Blessings for the Congregation
Loving God, we seek Your blessings upon this congregation as we commence our worship. Shower us with Your grace, and may Your favor rest upon each individual gathered here.
Numbers 6:24-25
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.”
12. Guiding Light Invocation
Eternal Light, as we invoke Your presence, be the guiding light in our worship. Illuminate our hearts with the wisdom of Your Word, and lead us on the path of righteousness.
Psalm 43:3
“Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.”
13. Asking for Divine Guidance
Gracious God, we humbly ask for Your divine guidance as we begin this worship. Direct our thoughts, words, and actions, that they may align with Your perfect will.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
14. Pleading for Spiritual Illumination
Heavenly Illuminator, we plead for Your light to shine upon us in this worship. Illuminate our minds with the understanding of Your Word, and may Your truth resonate within our spirits.
Psalm 119:130
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
15. Initiation Prayer for Reverence
Holy God, as we initiate this time of worship, instill in us a spirit of reverence and awe. May our hearts bow before Your majesty, and may our worship be characterized by deep respect for Your holiness.
Psalm 111:10
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.”
16. Inaugural Plea for Divine Presence
Gracious Presence, as we inaugurate this worship, we earnestly seek Your divine presence. Let Your glory fill this place, and may we encounter the richness of Your love and grace.
Exodus 33:14
“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’
17. Welcoming the Divine in Worship
Loving Father, we welcome Your divine presence into our midst as we begin this worship. May Your Spirit move freely among us, touching hearts and transforming lives.
Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
18. Calling on the Sacred at the Start
Sacred One, as we call on You at the start of this worship, we acknowledge Your holiness. Let Your sacred presence fill this space, and may our worship be a fragrant offering in Your sight.
Leviticus 20:26
“You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.”
19. Launching into Prayerful Reflection
Gracious God, as we launch into this time of worship, grant us the spirit of prayerful reflection. May our hearts be attuned to Your voice, and may we encounter You in the quiet moments of contemplation.
Psalm 119:15
“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.”
20. Petitioning for Grace in Worship
Merciful Father, we come before You, petitioning for Your grace in this worship. Shower us with Your undeserved favor, and may Your grace permeate every aspect of our time together.
Hebrews 4:16
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
21. Prologue of Reverent Petition
Holy God, in this prologue of worship, we offer reverent petitions before Your throne. Hear our prayers, O Lord, and let our supplications rise like incense before You.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
22. Anticipatory Invocation of the Divine
Almighty God, in this anticipatory moment, we invoke Your divine presence. Anticipate our needs, O Lord, and may Your Spirit move in power as we prepare our hearts for worship.
Psalm 27:8
“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
23. Addressing the Divine Presence Together
Loving Father, as a community, we address Your divine presence together. May our collective worship be a sweet melody in Your ears, and may our unity bring joy to Your heart.
Psalm 133:1
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
24. Launching into Worshipful Dialogue
Gracious Lord, as we launch into this worshipful dialogue, may our prayers be like a conversation with You. Open our hearts to hear Your voice, and may our dialogue with You deepen our intimacy.
Jeremiah 29:12
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
25. Communal Cry for Spiritual Guidance
Compassionate Guide, we, as a community, cry out for Your spiritual guidance in this worship. Lead us, O Lord, and may Your Spirit direct our steps as we seek You together.
Psalm 143:10
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
26. Opening Hearts in Prayerful Unity
Sovereign Lord, as we open our hearts in prayerful unity, bind us together with the cords of Your love. May our collective prayers create a symphony of devotion, resonating in Your presence.
Colossians 3:14
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
27. Summoning the Sacred at the Commencement
Holy God, as we summon the sacred at the commencement of this worship, may Your presence be palpable. Infuse this moment with the sacredness of Your being, and may our worship be a fragrant offering at the threshold of Your glory.
Psalm 29:2
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, as we have embarked on this sacred journey of worship, we have collectively sought the divine presence, invoked the Spirit, and engaged in prayerful unity. Through the diverse expressions of our hearts, we have welcomed the sacred, anticipating the transformative power of God’s grace.
As we conclude this time of communal worship, may the blessings of the Almighty linger in our hearts. Let the echoes of our prayers and praises resonate in the corridors of our lives, guiding us in the path of righteousness. As we carry the spirit of worship beyond these moments, may our lives be a continuous hymn of adoration, glorifying the name of the Holy One. Amen.
