Praying for Your Pastor

Posted on October 15, 2018 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Good morning, brothers. Yesterday many churches celebrated “Clergy Appreciation” Day. These are very challenging days to be in ministry and I want to encourage you to encourage your pastor more than just one day a year.

Celebrations are good reminders, but ministry today is tough. Most of us have no clue what goes on day-to-day in the life of our pastor and his family. Over the years I have heard people actually make this statement: “Being a pastor is a cushy job. After all, he only works one day a week!”

Really? Wow! God help us for thinking that way.

Dr. Ligon Duncan, a pastor himself gave a message and shared one of the greatest gifts you can ever give to your pastor. It’s not a trip to Israel or a gift card to his favorite restaurant – though those are certainly nice gestures.

The greatest gift you can give him is to PRAY for him DAILY. I shared this back in 2013, but it certainly bears repeating:

Pray –

1. That [your pastor] would know and love the living God, would have a saving interest in Christ, being purchased by His blood, and thus would be bound to the Lord by the indissoluble bond of the Holy Spirit.
2. That [your pastor] would know, embrace and ever more deeply understand the Gospel and be shaped by it in life and ministry.
3. That [your pastor] would be a useful servant of the Lord, that he would know and love God’s Word, God’s people, and God’s kingdom; that he would be used to build it up and so that it prevails even against Hell’s gates.
4. That [your pastor] would study, practice and teach the Word of the Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
5. That [your pastor] would love to pray, because he loves to commune with his God, and that he would be a man of prayer, characteristically.
6. That [your pastor] would be ever dependent upon and filled with the Spirit; and that he would possess true Spiritual wisdom.
7. That [your pastor] would be holy unto the Lord. That his tongue and heart would be wholly God’s.
8. That [your pastor] would be kept from pride, and especially spiritual pride. That the Lord himself would be gracious to slay pride in him, and that your pastor would endeavor to always be putting pride to death, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
9. That God would give [your pastor] guidance as to where to focus his efforts in ministry.
10. That He would protect [your pastor] from himself, from the enemy of his soul, and from all earthly enemies.
11. That no decision which [your pastor] ever makes or desire that [your pastor] ever pursues would restrict his ability to pour his whole soul into the Gospel ministry.
12. That many would be converted and many built up under [your pastor]’s ministry, to God’s glory alone.
13. That the Lord would bless [your pastor]’s wife, [. . . ], with holiness and happiness, Gospel assurance and Gospel rest.
14. That God would make [your pastor] a decent husband and father.
15. That [your pastor] would be a good friend to his wife, and love her self-sacrificially,
16. That [your pastor] would be a good daddy to his children. That they would love God, their parents and the church.
17. That [your pastor] would be a testimony in the home so that his wife might be able to respect him when he is in the pulpit, and so that [your pastor] will be able to feed her soul, along with the rest of the congregation.

Will you take up the challenge? I trust you will.

Overflowing and abounding in hope,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Matthew 8:14-34, Mark 4-5 | You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think about this: Prayer is a process of recognizing God’s power and plan for our lives. Daniel McCasland

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Lamentations 3:21