Praying For Our Pastor

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    October is traditionally "Pastor Appreciation" month.  I think it is wonderful that we make a special effort to show our pastor and his family that their labor and service for the Lord is noticed and loved. During this month, I would also like to challenge us to spend some focused time in prayer for our pastor. The enemy is desperately attempting to squelch the work of the Lord.  Those who faithfully bear witness to the gospel and serve the body of Christ are targets of the enemy's attacks in a way the rest of us may never experience.  While we should be in regular prayer for our pastor year round, I am challenging us to spend this month in special prayer for Pastor Rob, Autumn and Reese. 

    Sometimes we don't know what or how to pray.  Here are some prayer prompts that may help you this month.  Use one a day for a focused time of prayer, or pray through the list as you have time.  God inhabits the prayers of His people.  Let's surround, encourage, and protect our pastor with the presence of God as we lift this family  before the throne. 

   1. Pray that our pastor will love God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Pray that God will work powerfully in his heart, and that he will follow biblical priorities (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 6:33).

2. Pray that our pastor will cultivate strong character and uncompromising integrity. Pray that his testimony will be genuine, and that he will never do anything he would need to hide from others (Eph. 6:10-12; 1 Tim. 1:5; 3:7).

3. Pray for your pastor’s personal walk with God—that his soul and spirit will be nourished and strengthened in his time with God, beyond sermon preparation. Pray that he will always desire to spend time in God’s Word (Mark 1:35; 2 Tim. 2:15-16).

4. Pray that our pastor will counsel and teach with discernment through the wise use of Scripture and faith in God’s power to work. Pray that he will be protected from the effects of sinful or negative attitudes he encounters as he counsels (Mal. 2:7; John 17:15; James 1:5-6).

5. Ask God to protect our pastor’s marriage and continue to make it a strong model of Christ’s relationship with the Church. Pray that our pastor will always strive to tenderly cherish and lead his wife, and that she will, in turn, always respect and encourage him, submitting to his leadership (Eph. 5:23-33).

6. Pray that God will protect our pastor’s wife from bitterness when her husband is criticized. Pray that her intimacy with Jesus will be consistent, and that she will guard her mind and heart (Prov. 4:23; Heb. 12:15).

7. Pray for our pastor’s daughter, that the pressures of ministry will not discourage or embitter her. Pray that he will provide godly, scriptural leadership in the home, not based on fear of man (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:20-21).

8. Ask God to protect our pastor from evil plots of Satan. Pray that he will not be corrupted as he ministers in the world (Ps. 91:9-11; John 17:15; 2 Cor. 2:11).

9. Pray that God will build a hedge of protection around our pastor’s marriage. Pray that their family time will be protected (Ezek. 22:30a; Matt. 19:6; 2 Cor. 10:4-5).

 I hope you will take the time to look up the Scriptures that accompany each prompt.  God will speak to your heart as well, as you are faithful to lift up Pastor Rob and his family. Will you join me in this for the month of October? Together, let's cover our faithful pastor and his family in prayer as never before.  

💓 Heather Sparks💓

From the "Praying for your Pastor; 31 Day Prayer Guide" by Life Action Ministries. 

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