Prayers for the Month

These petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world. Thank you for your continued prayers for the life and mission of this church. 

JANUARY 2026 PRAYERS

1 New Year’s Day - What are your hopes, resolutions and visions for this year? Share them with God and ask for help in bringing them to fruition. 

2 Much of the world yearns for peace, unity and the healing of rifts that lead to violence, injustice, suffering and deep-rooted prejudice. Ask God for guidance and strength so we — individually and as communities of faith — can be persistent bearers of hope, grace, compassion and reconciliation in the world. 

3 Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry reminds us: “Our rootedness in Christ sustains us with his love. His love connects us to one another. We must stay connected to face the challenges of this moment.” Give thanks to God for the infectious nature of caring relationships and communities of faith grounded in the gospel and for the example of Jesus Christ’s life and teachings. 

4 Thank God for the opportunities we have through ELCA Global Mission to use our gifts, skills and life experiences to do God’s work. Pray that the Spirit will inspire and embolden siblings in Christ who are discerning their response to God’s invitation to serve alongside our companion churches and related organizations around the world. 

5 Pray that our lives bear witness to the life, light and grace that Jesus Christ, the son of God, brought into the world for all people. 

6 Epiphany of Our Lord - Give thanks and praise to God for revealing to us daily God’s majesty and the new life we receive in Jesus Christ! 

7 Pray that we increase Mission Support the portion of offerings that congregations share with synods and the churchwide organization that enables new ministries, supports development of new leaders, nurtures partnerships around the world, and strengthens our church’s efforts to alleviate poverty and work for justice and peace, here and around the world. 

8 Pray for the Spirit to continue to shed light on the mystery of our salvation and strengthen our faith in God’s promise of redemption fulfilled in Christ, a promise made to us with full awareness of our human quirks, flaws, questions and complexities. 

9 Thank God for the ELCA’s special relationship with the United Methodist Church, a full communion partner since 2009. Pray for the church, its members and its leaders, that together we will find strength and resources for the work of sharing the gospel and serving our neighbor, especially in these challenging times for the church and society. 

10 Pray for churchwide staff and volunteers from across the country who are planning the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis. Ask God to guide their preparations and stir their faith, creativity, wisdom and vision. 

11 The presence of Jesus Christ among us — God’s love expressed in human form — makes the unimagined real. Praise God for the amazing gift of salvation and the freedom to live in this world as children of God who follow Christ! 

12 Remember in prayer and give thanks for the ELCA’s Gender Justice and Women’s Empowerment program, which provides leadership, resources and advocacy for our church and society that is shaped by the unique voices and experiences of people across race, ethnicity, ability, class, sexuality and age. 

13 “Jesus calls us in, sends us out bearing fruit in a world of doubt, gives us love to tell, bread to share: God (Immanuel) everywhere” (WOV 754)! Give thanks for the Spirit who creates and nurtures unique gifts in each of us that help us serve our neighbors and share the good news of Jesus Christ far and wide. 

14 Pray that we awaken each day with renewed wonder, awe and respect for the complexity and beauty of God’s creation, from microscopic organisms and human beings to towering mountains and vast oceans. 

15 Ask the Spirit to help us grow more resilient so that we can navigate change and situations that are stressful, discomforting and overwhelming. Pray that our efforts to teach children and youth skills that lead to greater resiliency will be fruitful and effective. 

16 National Religious Freedom Day - Give thanks that our nation supports the freedom to embrace religion, to worship and to share our faith according to our personal beliefs. Pray that we will respect the religious beliefs of our neighbors and support their right to practice their faith openly, without constraints, persecution or unfair advantage. 

17 “A life steeped in generosity pours out love unconsciously” (the Rev. Peter W. Marty, Living Lutheran, 2015). Pray that we exercise a generosity that is not defined by financial wealth but flows from us as a daily expression of faith, with a spirit of gratitude for God’s abundant grace and the belief that our gifts contribute to God’s work in the world. 

18 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). Pray with our siblings in Christ around the world that we will find strength and joy in knowing that we are of one body in Christ that is not confined or divided by individual institutions or leaders, religious traditions, cultures or denominations. 

19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Give praise and thanks to God for courageous saints of the past and present who help bring about change. Pray that we value one another as children of God and that we are bold and persistent in confronting racism, injustice and inequity. 

20 Remember in prayer ELCA campus ministries and the Lutheran Campus Ministry Network (LuMin), inclusive faith communities on college and university campuses across the United States that nurture the faith of young adults through worship, study, fellowship and service. Give thanks for congregations that support and partner with campus ministries. 

21 “I have not hidden your saving help within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness” (Psalm 40:10). How can we keep the good news to ourselves? Pray for enthusiasm and the courage to share the story of our salvation and faith — God’s story — through our words and actions. Let us give thanks for how the Spirit equips us for such work. 

22 Pray for nations at war that are on the verge of peace and for those for whom a vision of peace is not yet clear. 

23 Pray for partnerships that help spread the gospel and provide love and care for our neighbors and siblings in Christ, including companion churches, full communion partners, the Lutheran World Federation, ecumenical and interfaith organizations, Lutheran Services in America’s network, Global Refuge, the World Council of Churches and others. 

24 Remember in prayer Lutheran outdoor ministry leaders who are recruiting young adults to serve in summer camp programs and are planting seeds of invitation in those who are unsure of how their faith, gifts and passions can be used to serve children, youth and adults of diverse abilities and backgrounds. 

25 Pray that we respond with a resounding yes — or even an uncertain yes — as the first disciples did when Jesus beckoned, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 

26 Conversion of Paul - Give thanks for God’s unfathomable power to change and redeem anybody, including us. Pray for those whom we feel are lost, unreachable and even undeserving of our mercy, trusting that all things are possible for God and that God will change our hearts and nudge us to be a loving and inspiring presence in their lives.   

27 We are a church that believes we accomplish more when we work together and collectively employ our diverse gifts for doing God’s work in the world. Ask God to help us bridge and mend divisions in our faith communities and society that get in the way of valuing one another and working together for the benefit of all, especially our neighbors in need. 

28 Praise God for theologians and teachers who help us study Scripture, develop a deeper understanding of God’s activity in the world, contribute to the maturing of our faith and explore how we live our faith in daily life. 

29 Pray for the ELCA Horizon International Internship program, which provides seminary students with intensive experiences here and with companion churches around the world, with the purpose of enriching their talents and leadership skills for ministry and the mission of the ELCA. 

30 Give thanks for stewardship and generosity resources and the assistance provided to congregations through the ELCA Mission Interpreters, Stewardship Key Leaders, stewardship coaching and Ventures Steward Leaders networks. 

31 Pray that we trust God’s enduring love, mercy and patience to renew and encourage us when we fall short of our promises, goals and good intentions.