By Chuck Lawless
In the late 1850s, a global spiritual awakening began when one man in New York City established a noonday prayer meeting and called the city to prayer. Indeed, most awakenings have begun with a few praying people who invite others to join them.
With that historical backdrop in mind, I wonder what might happen if congregations begin to pray the following prayers for church leaders. Would you pray these prayers for church leaders today, and then invite others in your congregation to join you?
1. Pray they will keep their eyes on God.
King Jehoshaphat faced three combined enemy armies, and he did not know what to do – except to lock his eyes on God. That’s the answer any time we have no clue about next steps.
“For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.” (2 Chron. 20:12, HCSB)
2. Pray they will not take a step apart from God’s leading.
Moses prayed this prayer when God would send only an angel to lead His people after their fiasco with the golden calf. He would rather the people not start the journey if God Himself were not leading them.
“If Your presence does not go,” Moses responded to Him, “don’t make us go up from here.” (Exod. 33:15)
3. Pray they will beware of relying on their own strength.
David, who knew the Lord is the one who fights for him (1 Sam. 17:47), trusted in his own might when he took a census of the Hebrew armies. Recognizing his sin, he prayed a prayer most leaders need to pray at some point:
“I have sinned greatly in what I’ve done. Now, Lord, because I’ve been very foolish, please take away Your servant’s guilt.” (2 Sam 24:10)
4. Pray they will be wise in leading God’s people.
When Solomon might have asked for much more, he instead asked God to give him a “listening heart” as he governed the people of God. All of us who lead congregations need this wisdom.
“So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kgs. 3:9)
5. Pray they will weep over the sin and failures of God’s people.
In my experience, the best shepherds are those who genuinely grieve the spiritual brokenness of the people they lead. Like Nehemiah when he heard about the damaged walls of Jerusalem, they are themselves broken when they see the results of spiritual decline.
“When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” (Neh. 1:4)
6. Pray they will know when to push away from the crowds to pray.
Ministry is time-consuming, and needs are ever before us. Nevertheless, leaders must have time alone with God to be renewed for the work – just as Jesus did.
“But the news about Him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.” (Luke 5:15-16)
7. Pray they will walk worthy of their calling.
If we pray more for church leaders today, it’s likely fewer will fall tomorrow. We must pray they walk in obedience and bear fruit, just as Paul prayed for the Colossian believers:
“we haven’t stopped praying for you . . . so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.” (Col. 1:9-10)
8. Pray they will speak the gospel boldly.
Paul wrote from a prison cell – his punishment for preaching the Word – but still he sought prayer support to continue his evangelizing. If Paul needed such prayer, surely church leaders do today.
“Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.” (Eph. 6:19)
9. Pray they will finish well.
Those church leaders who finish well PLAN to do so; that is, they choose from the beginning to stand against the devil and glorify God. Pray that your church leaders can one day echo these words of the Apostle Paul:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7).
What other ways might you pray for church leaders? As a leader, how would you like the readers of this post to pray for you?
Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.
Posted on December 2, 2014
Dr. Chuck Lawless is a leading expert in spiritual consultation, discipleship and mentoring. As a former pastor, he understands the challenges ministry presents and works with Church Answers to provide advice and counsel for church leaders.
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28 Comments
Pray that the Holy Spirit will prompt people to pray for their pastors and that those people will have ears to hear that prompting!
Dr. Lawless, thank you for posting this today. I used this today in our staff meeting by voicing each one of these as a prayer out loud for our staff and all our church leaders. This is right on point.
I’ve also found T.W. Hunt and Catherine Walker’s A-F Guide for Praying for Missionaries helpful:
Acceptance by coworkers – other believers (Rom. 15:31b)
Boldness in witnessing (Eph. 6:19)
Clarity in communicating (Col. 4:4)
Deliverance from evil (Rom. 15:31a)
Extension of the ministry (Col. 4:2-3)
Fruitfulness in spiritual endeavors (2 Thess. 3:1)
Source: Disciple’s Prayer Life: Walking in Fellowship with God
Very helpful, Craig. Thanks!
Thank you. It is a privilege to pray for our spiritual leaders.
Blessings, Matt. Agreed.
Pray that Jesus Christ works in and through each of our pastors; and, give thanks to God for these men and their families, who reflect the image of our Creator. Pray that none of the pastors’ family fall victim to the world, the flesh, or Satan. Pray that our pastors and their families keep Christ first in their hearts.
Pray for their protection, and pray that doors are opened for the Word of God to penetrate the hearts of those they minister to. Pray that our pastors might spread the gospel with boldness and power.And, that they might continue to grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding. Pray that our pastors have a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Pray that the Holy Spirit guide their every step.
Pray that they not become so overwhelmed by service projects and busy schedules, so absorbed in tasks and duties, that they lose out on communion with Christ. Pray that our pastors remain devoted to their personal prayer time.
Pray that our pastors set the Lord always before us, knowing that this “Golden Psalm” pertains to them as well. With the Lord always before us our faith will be strong, hope will be energetic, humility will be deep, contrition will be enduring, evidences will be agreeable, and our example will be as a bright light! Pray this for our pastors.(Psalm 16)
Pray that our pastors will “turn this world up-side-down!”
Thanks, Steve, for these additional thoughts.
Pray for your pastor that he will be faithful and diligent to preach and teach the word of God!
1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 4
2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Thanks, Craig.
1. Pray that they have or get some common sense.
2. Pray that they think of everyone when making a decision.
3. Pray that they not take sides or sell people out based on donation level, gender or age.
Thanks, Mark.
Excellent word! These are wonderful prayer points to pray for us all.
Blessings on your work, Trea.
Dr. Rainer,
I think the only thing I would add to that is to pray that the pastor has a healthy balance between ministry and family. If I lose my ministry I still have my family and am called to be the head of my family. If I lose my family, I will also lose my ministry. I want to be faithful in both. God bless.
In Christ,
Brett Patterson
Eph. 6:19-20
Good point, Brett. Thanks.
It’s a powerful prayer man of God..God richly bless you