“When the churches cease to pray for ministers, ministers will no longer be a blessing to the churches.”[1] Read that quote one more time and consider just how consistently you and I pray for our pastors. Pastor Gardiner Springer made this bold claim back in the 1800s, and I think that we have been slow to learn just how true it is.
Praying with and for our pastors is not an extra-credit endeavor for people with extra time on their hands. Praying with and for our pastors is our biblical calling as believers. The Apostle Paul repeatedly called people to prayer for him (Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:3; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1). Paul directly called people to partnership in prayer with him (Rom. 15:30).
Maybe Gardiner Springer really is on to something with our responsibility to pray for pastors. We are doing a disservice to our pastor and our church when we have anemic prayer disciplines.
Let’s commit to praying for our pastors. Pause and pray as you are led: for their intimacy with God, for relationships, for spiritual protection, for Spirt-led guidance, for encouragement, for engaging study and prayer times, and for effective ministry. If you would like further ideas to consistently pray for your pastor, see Why You Should Pray for Your Pastor and How to Pray.
We have an amazing opportunity to partner in Kingdom advancing ministry in our communities. Will we respond to our invitation to pray?
[1] As quoted by Christopher Poshin David in an article for The Gospel Coalition, https://in.thegospelcoalition.org/article/five-ways-to-pray-for-your-pastor/
