Praying for the Pastor

The highly successful London Pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was once asked, “What is the secret of your great influence?” Spurgeon replied, “My congregation prays for me.” How often do you pray for your Pastor? How specifically do you pray for your Pastor? Do you pray for his spiritual growth? Do you pray for his time management? Do you pray for his sermon preparation and delivery? Do you pray for his counseling sessions? Do you pray for his hospital visits? Do you pray for his community relationships and influence? Do you pray for his family? Do you pray for his accountability? Do you pray for his resistance of Satan? The list goes on. The Internet is full of articles on “How to” pray for your Pastor, including scriptures to use. My question is, do you? Knowing how is not enough. In his Pastoral letters, Paul asked for prayer (Eph. 6:18-19 and elsewhere). So when should you pray for your Pastor: Saturday nights when Satan attempts to rob sleep; Sunday mornings when the congregation must be faced and fed; Monday mornings when the adrenalin rush is over and vulnerability sets in; any other time God brings the Pastor to your mind. It was Spurgeon who also said, “A prayerless church member is a hindrance. He is in the body like a rotting bone or a decayed tooth. Before long, since he does not contribute to the benefit of his brethren, he will become a danger and a sorrow to them. Neglect of private prayer is the locust which devours the strength of the church.” So get busy this week, praying for your Pastor.

Join me this week in praying for the following global concerns:
• Pray for Pastors around the globe and especially for your Pastor today.
• Pray for missionaries who serve in countries that are suffering a serious financial crisis.
• Pray for the Sept. 25-30 Staff Retreat, for those working with German students.
• Pray for Origin Church, Vancouver, Canada as they follow up after their launch service on Sept. 18.