During these pandemic days, I’ve had countless people text, call, or email to let me know they are praying for me.  One morning early during the early days of making the decision to close the church doors to the public, I was deeply moved when I received consecutive phone calls from congregants offering to pray for me over the phone.  I wept.

While I genuinely believe that congregants pray for their pastor, I’ve experienced that they often need a little help on the specifics.  Here are a few ways in which you can pray for your pastor.

 

Pray For Your Pastor To Seek First The Kingdom of God

Pastors are pulled in many directions.  They are tasked with leading staff, planning services, preparing sermons, offering counseling, mediating conflict, growing the church, increasing offerings, leading in the community, and more.  Yet, nothing is a greater priority than seeking the Kingdom.

 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt 6:33)

 

Pray For Your Pastor to Love God With His All

Pastors do not get an exemption from loving God with all their all heart.  In fact, they should model it for congregants.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt 22:37)

 

Pray For Your Pastor’s Marriage and Family

It is a temptation for pastors to take of the needs of the church and community and overlook the needs within his own household. This is a tragedy that has led to the downfall of many pastors and ministries.  Pray that your pastor loves his wife as Christ loved the church and shepherds his children in a way that reflects and honors the Lord.

 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Eph 5:25)

 

Pray For Your Pastor To Preach The Gospel

Pastors are told to “grow the church” and “draw a crowd.”  Many have used this exhortation to abandon the gospel for something more pleasing to the ear of the masses.  Many pastors grow so fatigued that their zeal for the gospel fades.  Pray that your pastor keeps the gospel a priority and preaches with passion.

 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. (Eph 6:19)

 

Pray For Your Pastor to Have A Vision For The Church

Churches live and breathe on the local level.  Your church is at its best when it is faithful to Jesus Christ and faithful to meeting the needs of its community.  There is a temptation for pastors to follow methods found successful elsewhere.  There is a urge to do what is popular, hip, or trendy.  Yet, a pastor needs a vision for his own church in his own community.

Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Prov 29:18)

 

Pray For Your Pastor To Be Filled with Discernment And Wisdom

Pastors make decisions that impact the spiritual care and development of a congregation.  These decisions should never be made in haste or with human wisdom.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.(James 1:5)

 

Pray For Your Pastor to Find Rest

There are always sermons to write, people to see and call, community events to attend, and meetings to lead.  Yet, the pastor cannot lead without rest.  Far too many pastors burnout and leave the ministry causing personal and congregational pain.  Pray for your pastor to rest.  After all, Sabbath is a commandment.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. (Exodus 20:8)