Year-end giving is one of the most significant times of the year for your church. 

Did you know it can account for 25% or more of a church’s annual budget?

December often determines whether ministry goals can be fully realized.

We’ve already shared three practical tips to prepare for year-end giving. Now, let’s focus on a different but equally critical aspect: prayer. 

It’s easy to get caught up in strategies and last-minute logistics for year-end giving, but pausing to seek God’s guidance and provision is the most important step we can take. Whether your church is thriving financially or relying on December giving to close a budget gap, prayer aligns our hearts with God’s will and reminds us of His faithfulness.

Here are three ways to pray for your church during this vital season of year-end giving:

Pray for God’s Provision

God’s Word assures us that He will provide for our needs, but He also calls us to seek Him in prayer for that provision (think: Matthew 6). As you know, prayer is an act of acknowledging God as our ultimate provider. Year-end giving can bring financial blessings, but God’s provision doesn’t always come in the form of money.

As you pray, ask God to provide in whatever way He deems best for the ministry He has entrusted to your church. There are countless stories of God’s provision that don’t involve finances—a needed resource donated, a volunteer stepping up, or a community partnership forming unexpectedly. Be open to the ways God might provide beyond the monetary goals you’ve set.

In your prayers, seek not just the fulfillment of specific financial needs but also clarity and wisdom to recognize the ways God is working. Ask Him to accomplish His purposes for your church, trusting that His ways are higher than ours.

Pray for Dependence and Faith

Trusting God’s provision requires faith, especially during the uncertainties of year-end giving. For some, the need to pray for faith arises from a place of desperation, echoing the cry of the father in Mark 9:24: “I believe; help my unbelief!” For others, it’s a reminder not to rely on abundance but to remain dependent on God as the ultimate source of every blessing.

This season, pray that your church leadership, staff, and congregation would grow in their dependence on God. 

Ask for faith to trust Him in every circumstance—whether finances are tight or abundant. Pray for peace in knowing that God is in control, even when the outcome looks different from what you anticipated.

Dependence and faith are cultivated when we choose to surrender our plans to God. Encourage your team and your congregation to pray individually and collectively, asking God to increase their trust in Him. In doing so, you’ll see hearts transformed and faith strengthened, even beyond the season of year-end giving.

Pray for Stewardship

Stewardship is at the heart of year-end giving. As Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). 

Praying for stewardship goes beyond asking for financial contributions; it’s about fostering a culture of discipleship and obedience to God.

Pray that your church’s members would grow in their understanding of biblical stewardship. Ask God to work in their hearts, helping them recognize that everything they have belongs to Him. Pray that they would respond with generosity, not out of obligation but as an act of worship and trust in God’s provision.

When you pray for stewardship, you’re not just praying for increased giving but for spiritual growth in your congregation. As people grow in their stewardship, they become more aligned with God’s purposes, and their generosity becomes a natural outpouring of their faith. This kind of transformation leads to long-term impact, both for the individual and for the church as a whole.

Additionally, pray that your church’s leadership would be wise and faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to them. Ask for discernment in allocating funds and making decisions that reflect God’s priorities.

Encouragement for Pastors

As a pastor, the weight of year-end giving can feel overwhelming. On top of preparing for one of the most important services of the year, you’re also navigating the financial pressures that come with closing out the budget. Remember, you are not alone. God is with you, and He is faithful.

Take time to pause and pray, even in the busyness of this season. Trust that God hears your prayers and is working behind the scenes in ways you may not yet see. Encourage your team and congregation to join you in prayer, uniting in dependence on God for His provision, guidance, and grace.

Year-end giving matters. It plays a crucial role in funding the mission and ministry of your church. But more importantly, it’s an opportunity to grow in faith, stewardship, and reliance on God. We are praying for you and your church during this season, trusting that God will provide exactly what you need to accomplish His will.

Interested in additional resources on year-end giving? 

Checkout this article by Pushpay OR Download our Free Ultimate Guide to Year-End Giving!