Powerful Prayers To Support Our Pastors In Need
Helping those who minister by our prayers on their behalf
This post was previously released in 2022, and we’ve updated it for today after being inspired by a recent post by because we’ve been reminded that our pastors, who rarely ask for prayer, desperately need us praying for them.
We hope this encourages you.
We must pray for our Pastors
As the Apostle Paul asked for prayers from the church, and we are those who should do the praying.
Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there… Romans 15:31-32 BSB
Pastors are on the front lines of ministry, the shepherds of the flocks, the overseers, and God's servant to His people. And often they are alone, or have few close friends to who they may turn for prayer and support.
As such, they also are under increasing attacks (as are all faithful in Christ) by the spirit of the age, the enemy of the Church, of God's people. Paul urged his readers, and you and me—(exhort, beseech, appeal, beg) to pray, and we should.
Therefore, we ought to support them, to under-gird them, helping those who minister by our prayers on their behalf. This includes elders, teachers, evangelists, staff, singers, and any who do the work of the ministry.
Three Prayers For Pastors
Pray first they be delivered from the wicked
may they be protected from those who have no faith,
may they have patience in persecution.
Pray for health, safety, joy, peace.
Pray second their servant-leadership be acceptable to the saints.
Ask for wisdom and words be given them to make known the mystery of the Gospel.
Pray for their preaching. May they speak boldly as they ought and speak truth in the love of God.
Ask God for grace to minister effectively at all times, in all ways, to all people
Pray also their work be effective in equipping the saints for the work of ministry;
that they be strong in the Lord and power of His might;
that their faith not fail;
that they stay alert, be firm in faith, courageous, and do all in love for Christ.
Hold a Prayer Meeting
We know of some churches who pray with the pastor before the service, another that prays during the service, some that pray at the church during the week.
Regardless how or when, we encourage you to meet and pray individually or in a small group for your church leadership, especially the pastor.
If your church has a regular prayer meeting time, be sure to pray specifically for the ministers in addition to the sick list, or missionaries.
If your church is without a weekly meeting for prayer, start one. This week! And you be the one to begin one. Invite the pastor(s) but do not ask them to lead it. You set a time and place and invite the members/elders. This is not something to wait for someone else to take the lead—you take the initiative.
Does it astonish you that a man so rich in grace as Paul should be asking prayers of these unknown saints? It need not astonish you; for it is the rule with the truly great to think most highly of others. In proportion as a man grows in grace he feels his dependence upon God, and, in a certain sense, his dependence upon God’s people. —C.H. Spurgeon
Pray especially for Preachers To Pray
The Church does not need better methods, or better speakers, but better men who preach. And, says E.M. Bounds, men who are better preachers are first men who pray.
Our pulpits are weak in prayers, our pews are weak in prayers, our churches are weak in prayers…and our sermons are weak, and our faith is weak and also our power. What is preached from the pulpit should start in the closet. Our knowledge comes from Scripture, our strength in the Lord comes from praying.
The preaching man is a praying man. Prayer is the preachers mightiest weapon…Every preacher who does not make prayer a mighty factor in his own life and ministry is a weak factor in God’s work and is powerless to project God’s cause in this world. — E.M. Bounds
Pray for the men who preach and teach, that they might be first men who pray.
Thanks for reading. Do you know others who would benefit from hearing some encouraging words about praying?
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Have other prayers for pastors suggestions?
Until next time, grace and peace
Photo by Mitchell Leach on Unsplash
Great piece, you brought the Words of some powerful scripture and some legends in Spurgeon and EM Bounds. Thanks for insight, shoutout, and keep encouraging others.