A note from Worshipscores arranger Don Chapman: When I led worship at a church, it was always hard for me (and stressful!) to pray publicly because I don’t have the “gift of gab.” You know those people who can eloquently pray deep, meaningful prayers at the drop of a hat? I’m not one of them! I have to think things through and practice before I speak publicly.

Maybe you do, too. That’s why every underscore here at WorshipScores comes with a pre-written prayer.

Here are a few ways to use them:

1. Use the prayer as written. Just read it. You might even put the text on screen so your congregation can pray along with you, silently or in unison.

2. Use it as a starting point. Maybe my words aren’t exactly your words. That’s fine – let the prayer help you organize your thoughts, then put it into your own voice. Think of it as a rough draft for your heart!

3. Hand it to someone on your team. You might have the gift of gab, but there’s probably someone on your praise team who freezes up the second you ask them to pray. This gives them the confidence to actually do it.

Pre-written prayers take that pressure off. Instead of scrambling for the right phrase, you can focus on the meaning behind the words. Read through the prayer a few times beforehand, practice it a few times in private, and when the moment comes, just breathe and let the words carry you.

Bottom Line: If public prayer stresses you out (or someone on your team), you’ve already got a prayer ready to go with every underscore in your library.

Get Ready To Lead Worship: Tips for Praying with Confidence: Learn how to lead public prayer with confidence: be authentic, focus on connecting with God, keep it brief & relevant. Pray for specific needs & plan ahead.