How to Pray for Your Pastor

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”https://ref.ly/2Th3.1;av1873

    Your pastor is human and cannot lead you by God’s Word unless given strength by God. He needs your prayers. Just as surely as Paul the apostle recognized his need of prayer, every godly pastor recognizes the same need, and echoes the holy plea, “Pray for us.”

    How then must one pray for his pastor? Let us first look to our text.

    We should first pray for his heart. The godly pastor longs for the Word of God to have free course. His passionate desire is that Scripture would not only work unimpeded among those who hear it, but also in his own heart. Pray that God would open his understanding, strengthen his affections for Christ, inflame his passion for God’s glory, and make him strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

    Pray that the Word of God would have free course as your pastor preaches. Pray that his mind will be clear and free from distractions. Pray that his thoughts will be orderly, that he might preach plainly for the good of all who hear. Pray that he will have grace, wisdom, and boldness so that he can preach the Word of God correctly.

    Pray that the Word of God would have free course so that God would fill your pastor with the Spirit and use him as an instrument of blessing. (See also Ephesians 6:17-20;Colossians 4:1-4.)

“From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”https://ref.ly/Ga6.17;av1873

    Pray that your pastor would be freed from troublesome people in the church. Paul battled against false doctrine, and the battles sometimes became wearisome. Paul longed for people to repent and believe the truth. Every disturbance in the church can be connected to doctrinal error. Scripture teaches that right practice and godly behavior are the result of believing correct doctrines (2 Timothy 3:12-17). There are enough troubles in the world to face, when we serve Jesus.Pray that yourself and all other members of the church would humbly hear God’s Word and learn so that your pastor can be freed from church trouble. The peace of your pastor is also your peace and profit (Hebrews 11:7-8,17).

“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.”https://ref.ly/Heb13.18;av1873

    Here we find the apostolic writer asking again for prayer. It is crucial that we understand the context. Instruction is given in verse seventeen for the hearers to obey their pastors and submit themselves to them. Truly the only way you can pray well for your pastor is when you recognize the great responsibility laid upon him by God, submit yourself to his leadership (Remember, according to the Scriptures, his position places him as your elder, no matter how old you may be.), and strive to follow His instructions from God’s Word. Knowing his responsibility, and recognizing your own need of leadership, you can then pray earnestly and humbly that God’s power and wisdom would rest upon your brother who teaches you from God’s Word. If you believe it is your prerogative to get on the phone and gossip about him, criticize him, and even seek to rebuke him; remember that will not be to your profit (Hebrews 13:17). Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:22-23), and you are courting danger if you do these things. 

    Pray humbly for your pastor. He loves you. He longs to help you. He prays for grace to be a blessing to you. You need him. You need his guidance and instruction. Be among those who make the ministry pleasant for their pastor. Pray for him!

Published by JasonS