As I write this in late September, we are about to head into “Pastor Appreciation Month,” which is an unofficial celebration observed each October by many churches. Of course we should find ways to appreciate our pastors all the time, but I don’t see why we shouldn’t also have a special month set aside to pay special attention to loving and caring for them!
One of the best ways to appreciate and care for your pastors—outside of a gift card to a favorite book store or restaurant—is to pray for your pastors. Here are seven basic ways to pray for the pastors at your church, in every season, whether or not it is Pastor Appreciation Month.
1. Pray for their spiritual vitality.
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. John 15:5
Pray and ask God to uphold your pastors’ walks with Christ. Specifically pray that they experience intimacy with Christ and feel deeply the goodness and grace of God in their everyday lives. Pray that they are sustained by the food of God’s Word even as they help others eat, too.
2. Pray for their protection from discouragement and burnout.
but those who trust in the Lord
will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not become weary,
they will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Intercede on behalf of your pastors against burnout and discouragement that can so easily bog pastors down in their work. Pastors work long, often unpredictable hours as they shepherd people through some of the darkest days of their lives, all while receiving criticism from people in and outside of the church for a variety of reasons. Ask God to renew their strength, maintain their love for others, and honor their dependence on Him.
3. Pray for their marriage and family.
But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship — the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
The work of pastoral ministry is draining on pastors, but it is also a burden borne by their spouses and families. Pray and ask God to ease the burden felt by pastors’ families, that any negative experiences the pastors have in leadership do not tarnish their families’ love for the local church or their faith in God. Ask God to sustain your pastors’ families through the ups-and-downs of ministry life, and to remind them of His kindness and presence daily.
4. Pray for wisdom in leadership and decisions.
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Pastors face hard decisions on a regular basis—decisions that could impact the lives of people in their churches or in their broader communities. Ask God to give your pastors discernment and wisdom for these difficult decisions and any other leadership challenges that arise. Pray that they would have courage and confidence in their decision-making, even as they endure feelings of uncertainty or a disquieting spirit. Ask God to grant them peace and to provide them with reminders of His faithfulness and love amid their difficult decisions and leadership challenges.
5. Pray for boldness and clarity in preaching.
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. Ephesians 6:19
A specific prayer to pray for your preaching and teaching pastors is that the Lord would give them boldness and clarity in their preaching. Many preachers, however eloquent they may be, feel a special kind of vulnerability preaching God’s Word, which can make it easy to fall prey to the undermining jabs of the evil one. Pray that God would give your pastors a holy confidence as they preach, that their handling of the Word would bring clarity to those who listen, and that God would draw people to Himself through their communication of His Word.
6. Pray for protection from temptation and spiritual attack.
Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Satan hates the work of pastors. He and his demons prowl around looking for all manner of ways to trip up pastors as they try to lead people to Christ. In our prayers for our pastors we must not underestimate the very real spiritual battle that pastors endure as they lead God’s sheep and protect them from the wolves that lurk about in the darkness. Ask God to guard the hearts of your pastors, to keep them from sin, and to help them resist the temptations that are thrown their way. Ask God to give them humility for when they stumble and fall, never fearing to ask for help.
7. Pray for their rest and renewal.
He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. Mark 6:31
Pastoral ministry may not be as physically taxing as digging ditches, but it is exhausting work that often requires long, unusual hours. A pastor may be in the middle of sermon prep on a Friday afternoon when a call comes in for an emergency counseling session that lasts deep into the night, resulting in missed family time and an unfinished Sunday sermon, which will require more time away from family on Saturday afternoon.
Pray that God helps your pastors rest, take time off to recharge by themselves and to care for their families. Many pastors feel guilty when they take time to rest, so pray specifically that God would guard pastors from this feeling of guilt and instead give them joy in their rest.
God Hears Our Prayers
Godly pastors are a tremendous gift. We must not take them for granted. However and whenever you pray, set aside time to specifically pray for the pastors God has given you and your church. Pray some of these prayers and others that come to mind. Be specific. Remember that God hears our prayers—He really does! And, if you think of it, tell your pastors you’re praying for them! Doing so would be no small encouragement, I’m sure.
