Pentecost marks the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, making it a significant time for prayer and spiritual renewal in the Christian faith. Discover these heartfelt prayers for Pentecost that invite the Holy Spirit's guidance, strength, and presence into your life.
Although Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples didn’t have to wait long before the Holy Spirit stepped onto the scene on Pentecost Sunday. 50 days after Resurrection Sunday, the next era of God’s kingdom stepped onto the scene. Let’s take a look at what happened in Acts 2.
Acts 2:1-4: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a]as the Spirit enabled them.”
The passage says that they had a chance to speak to the people, and thousands believed and gave their lives to Christ that day.
10 Prayers for Pentecost
Let’s explore the meaning of Pentecost in the Old Testament and the power of the Holy Spirit given to believers on Sunday. Let us offer some prayers for Pentecost to thank God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Simple Pentecost Prayers
Here are some simple prayers for Pentecost, each designed to invite the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance into your life:
Prayer for the Holy Spirit's Presence
Dear Holy Spirit,
Fill our hearts with Your presence.
Guide us with Your wisdom and love.
Amen.
Prayer for Unity
Loving God,
On this day of Pentecost,
Bring us together in Your love and peace.
Help us to be one in spirit and purpose.
Amen.
Heavenly Father,
Grant us the strength and courage that Your Spirit brings.
Empower us to live out our faith boldly.
Amen.
Prayer for Renewal
Spirit of God,
Renew our hearts and minds today.
Fill us with Your grace and peace.
Amen.
Prayer for Guidance
Lord Jesus,
Send Your Holy Spirit to guide us.
Lead us on the path of righteousness and truth.
Amen.
Prayer for Spiritual Gifts
Gracious God,
Bestow upon us the gifts of Your Spirit.
Help us to use them for Your glory and the good of others.
Amen.
These prayers are simple yet profound ways to seek the Holy Spirit’s influence and support during Pentecost.
A Prayer for Pentecost to Reflect and Rejoice
Need a prayer for Pentecost to celebrate the church’s birthday? We’ve compiled one below and several Scriptures you can pray over this day.
Dear Heavenly Father, on this day, 2000 years ago, you inaugurated the church by having the Holy Spirit indwell in your believers. We rejoice that you have allowed us, men and women, Jew and Gentile, to experience new life. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, our comforter, our convictor, our guide, and many others. May we continue to celebrate this day until you return again. Amen.
A Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit, You are God. I praise you because you are holy, and I thank you for dwelling in my heart. Thank you for working in my life. You guided me into salvation, renewed my dead spirit, and you opened my eyes to the Truth. Thank you.
Help me to see you more clearly – to recognize your movement in my life. Make me more sensitive to you so I can follow you more closely. Still, I know that I am selfish and rebellious. I need you to help me be obedient when I recognize your leading. I need you.
I ask you for your help and comfort today. You know my pain and anxieties very well. Thank you for praying over me. Help me to rest in your comfort today.
Help me to walk in you, the Spirit of God. Grow good fruit in my life. You are the one who produces these in me: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I cannot live out these things on my own; I need you. Amen (by Emily Hall)
A Prayer to Welcome the Holy Spirit into Our Day
Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Holy Spirit, we know that You are the Counselor of Truth, our help in need, and the One who fills us with the Spirit of God. Holy Spirit, we pray this very day to come into greater communion with You. You so graciously work to intercede for us to the Father, but also to comfort us with Your peace that goes beyond all understanding. Holy Spirit, please come.
Holy Spirit, today we ask for godly counsel and direction. As it says in Psalm 37:4 to delight yourselves in the Lord, so we boldly seek to do so today. Following the will and heart of the Father is our greatest desire, for we know His plans are best for us and, in the end, glorify the kingdom. Holy Spirit, please lead us by Your wisdom, discernment, and kindness throughout our lives.
Holy Spirit, we praise and thank You for the love lavished upon us. Holy Spirit, we seek and so earnestly crave to be in Your presence, to feel the inner work of You in our own hearts and minds. You so graciously give comfort, truth, and love. Holy Spirit, we welcome You this very day. In the Name of Christ Jesus, Amen. (by Callie Logan)
Thank You for The Spirit
Dear Jesus, Thank You for leaving the Holy Spirit here with us as our protection and provision. Thank you that we can have that power at work in our lives if we are only mindful of it and remember to draw from it. Please help me to be obviously different to everyone I encounter and to reflect You in my life so that people will know, “The Lord is with me.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (by Marybeth Whalen, Proverbs 31 Ministries)
A Prayer to Access the Power of the Holy Spirit
Lord, sometimes I forget that I even have the power of the Holy Spirit in me. I stumble about like I’m spiritually blind rather than walk surefooted like an empowered child of the King. Help me to access the power that You have already given me. Help me to understand what that power looks like. Help me to understand the person of the Holy Spirit better. In Jesus' Name, Amen. (by Sharon Jaynes, Girlfriends in God)
What Happened at Pentecost?
As stated in our article on 5 Important Things to Know About Pentecost Sunday, it's important to note that Pentecost fell during the Jewish festival of Shavuot. Not only did this allow people from all walks of life to head to Jerusalem and hear Peter’s message, but the holiday also celebrated God’s provision.
God did not have the two events fall on the same day by accident. God has provided the Holy Spirit that day, to empower believers and to inaugurate them into God’s kingdom.
Interestingly enough, Shavouth celebrated when God gave the Israelites the 10 Commandments and revealed the Torah to Moses, which many consider the start of the Old Testament canon. It’s only fitting that the new chapter of the Early Church would commence on such a holiday.
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit found the disciples of Jesus waiting in one place. The Holy Spirit descended on them like tongues of fire. They were indwelt with the Spirit, just as Jesus had promised.
The followers of Jesus went into the town, speaking in tongues. The people around them thought, at first, that they had too much to drink. But Peter rebukes this and speaks clearly—showing he is not inebriated.
Peter shares the Gospel message with them and calls for the crowd to repent and be baptized. Three thousand people in the crowd accepted this message and received the Holy Spirit that day.
This was the birth of the church, and the numbers grew from those who dedicated their lives to Christ that day.
When Is Pentecost This Year?
Pentecost always falls 50 days after Easter (or 50 days total, including Easter). The holiday always occurs on a Sunday.
Pentecost in 2024 falls on Sunday, May 19th. Below, we’ve compiled the dates of Pentecost for the next few years.
2025: Sunday, June 8
2026: Sunday, May 24
2027: Sunday, May 16
How Do We Celebrate Pentecost?
Many Christian churches won’t do much in terms of celebration beyond having a sermon about Pentecost on Pentecost Sunday. However, some more traditional denominations may do more to celebrate the holiday.
Before Pentecost, people in the church may participate in something known as novena: nine days of prayer. After all, the disciples, after Jesus ascended, dedicated the next days to prayer until the Holy Spirit arrived.
Historically, Churches have thrown feasts on Pentecost Sunday, calling it the church's birthday.
Other churches today may have depictions or symbols of fire or a rushing wind to remember how the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples that day.
There’s no “right way” to celebrate Pentecost, as the church has differed in its celebrations throughout the years. But we should remember this day that the church began as we know it. Perhaps we can gather with our families and pray the Scriptures below to celebrate 2000 years of history in which God has remained faithful to his people.
Other Fun Facts about Pentecost
Pentecost fulfills prophecies: “Pentecost fulfills the ancient prophecies of Holy Scripture. Peter was saying that “the festival of harvest” had then yielded untold bushels of cataclysmic change in the universe as a result of the empowering of the disciples by the Holy Spirit.” —Dr. Michael A. Milton
Peter would not have been the church’s first choice as a first pastor: “He is the one who constantly puts his foot in his mouth, constantly is having to be corrected by Jesus, but is in the inner circle. And because of grace and mercy, he is chosen to be the one who stands up in front of this throng, probably thousands, maybe tens of thousands of people to proclaim the gospel, there in the midst of a Hebrew celebration that was intended to remind the Hebrews of how God had always protected them.” —Dr. Ray Pritchard
The apostles were very different than before Easter Sunday: “The second obvious change in the lives of the disciples was in their spiritual strength. After Pentecost, they were different people. No longer did they flee like sheep without a shepherd. Instead, they turned the world upside down. They turned the world upside down because they fully understood two simple things: the "where" and the "why" of Jesus' departure.” —Receiving Joy and Strength.
More Scriptures to Pray over for Pentecost this Year
Romans 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
1 Corinthians 14:15: “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”
Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
1 John 5:15: “And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Pentecost is a time for celebration and reflection. After all, the birth of the church took place on that day 2,000 years ago! Let’s use this holiday to rejoice in the moving power of the Spirit and anxiously await for Christ to return again and bring about the new heaven and new earth. Just as he said.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Javier_Art_Photography
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This article is part of our Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
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