Praying for Pastors and their Families
Gary Strong

 

 
Some years ago, whilst heading up an organization called "A Nation at Prayer," I produced a book called "The Keys to Effective Prayer." One of the keys was "Praying for pastors and their families." The response to this particular key was surprising. Pastors made a point of thanking me for urging intercessors to pray for them.
 
Pastors and their families are subject to pressures and tensions unknown to ordinary Church members. That is why it is important to pray for our spiritual leaders. His is a work that demands a full variety of emotional, mental, spiritual and physical strains. He is a husband, father, pastor, teacher, counselor and comforter to the bereaved. He must be disciplined in prayer, a Bible student, and a theologian. He is a manager and chairman of different boards, all of which requires knowledge and wisdom. Because they have an influential role in the lives of people, Satan will try and destroy their ministry.
 
After having been associated with many Pastors and their families over 52 years in the ministry and having seen the sacrifices they make for the betterment of their people, my love and respect for them has grown and I have been led to pray for them consistently. We need to pray for them:
 
Lovingly:  From a person who is called upon to give so much love he needs to have a flow of love coming from intercessors.   Intelligently:  Think of the variety of activities he has to do and lift him up before God. Sermon Preparation:  Every Sunday he has to prepare and preach God's Word, often in the morning and evening services.   When he Preaches:  Listen to the message and direct your love to him so that the anointing of God can be fully released through him into the hearts and minds of the people.   Counseling:  He has to meet and speak to troubled people with a wide spectrum of needs. He has to be all things to all men. Pray for him to have a listening and discerning heart and a Christ like voice to comfort, strengthen and guide lost and distracted souls to the Savior.   Family Life:  For someone who gives so much of himself to others, it is all too possible that he may inadvertently neglect his family. His wife needs his love because she has stresses that are peculiar to a pastor's wife. People may not realize that her sacrifice is as great as his. Because of the pressure of the ministry, children can feel that the church and other people have more of their father than they do. Pray that he will be able to give them the time they need. It brings little glory to the Lord if a pastor sees to everyone's needs but has missed the needs of his own family.