Prayer Guide

October 3, 2025

Whether you fast for a day or just a meal or two, the point is not the length but the heart. This is between you and the Lord.

Jesus said, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21 NASB1995).

I know—just seeing the word fasting may tempt some of us to think, “Maybe I’ll skip to the next email.” But if you’ll stay with me for just a few short paragraphs, I believe you’ll see a truth that can awaken life, joy, freedom, and fulfillment in your walk with God.

Volumes have been written on fasting, but let’s consider just two verses. First, Jesus said, “Whenever you fast” (Matthew 6:16). He didn’t say if, but when. In other words, fasting is not an optional extra—it’s a normal rhythm of following Jesus.

But here’s where it gets exciting. Ezra 8:21 has gripped me for decades. It reveals the incredible reward for those willing to humble themselves through fasting:

“Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions” (NASB1995).

Notice how fasting touches every part of life:

• “Us”—you, your family, your church, your community, even your nation
• “Our little ones”—your children and grandchildren, as well as young believers still growing in the faith.
• “All our possessions”—yes, even your material world comes under God’s care and blessing when you seek Him through fasting.

So today, as you set aside time to pray and fast for God’s work in our church and in our city, remember: It won’t just impact the culture around you. It will also impact you.

As God used our prayers to lead Ben Mandrell to Bellevue, may He use our prayers to sustain and empower Ben as he serves as Senior Pastor

• Pray that while Ben, Lynley, Jack, and the rest of their family (Ava, who is married to Miles Denton; Max at Samford University; and Miles at the University of Tennessee) are beginning to experience Memphis and Bellevue as home, they will know the comfort and security of the living God as they never have before.
  • “The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.” Deuteronomy 33:27a NLT
• Pray we will do our part so Ben will not become weary in the battle.
  • “While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed. When Moses’s hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the sword.” Exodus 17:11–13 (emphasis added)
• Pray the pressures of ministry and life will only cause Ben to experience Jesus in a richer, fuller way.
  • “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. So then, death is at work in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:8–12 (emphasis added)
• Pray God gives Ben the faith and focus to please God alone.
  • “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 ESV
• Pray God will give Ben the wisdom to make right decisions at the right time.
  • “Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 ESV
• Pray Ben will overflow with hope, joy, and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Pray that Christians will pray without ceasing and that churches will live in the reality that apart from Jesus we can do nothing

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7 NASB1995

“These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:7 NIV

Pray for churches to minister faithfully

Pray for Bellevue, for other churches you know of, and for churches in Memphis and the Mid-South.

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42–47 NASB1995

• Pray pastors will lead wisely.
  • That they’ll have pure motives
  • That they won’t give place to a spirit of fear of discouragement
  • That they’ll live and walk in faith, setting a Christlike example for the flock
• Pray congregations will live righteously.
  • That they’ll volunteer to meet others’ needs
  • That they’ll maintain a unity of spirit and be of one mind
• Pray Bible-believing, Christ-honoring churches will experience God’s blessing.
  • That they will be seen as a giving, serving people
  • That they will be noticed as a glad and sincere people
  • That they’ll have the favor of the Lord upon them and see God add to their number day by day

Pray for political leaders

We have been commanded to pray “for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2).

• Pray those who are saved will lead with righteous values and share the Gospel of Christ with other political leaders.
• Pray the pressures of leading will cause lost politicians and judges to call on Jesus to be saved.

Donald J. Trump

Vice President of the United States:
J.D. Vance

Supreme Court Justices:
John G. Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States
Clarence Thomas
Samuel A. Alito
Sonia Sotomayer
Elena Kagan
Neil M. Gorsuch
Brett M. Kavanaugh
Amy Coney Barrett
Ketanji Brown Jackson

Governor of Tennessee:
Bill Lee

Tennessee Senators:
Marsha Blackburn
Bill Hagerty

West Tennessee Congressmen:
Steve Cohen
David Kustoff

Memphis/Shelby County Elected Officials

City Council:

Shelby County Commissioners: