Everyone expects the pastor to pray for his people.  But pastors need prayer too. In fact, they need much prayer. Their responsibility is great. Satan’s attack strong.

We have made a practice of praying for our Pastor every day.  We pray for wisdom, for strength, and protection. We pray for his family. Hundreds of times over the last few years I have asked my Pastor if there was anything I could do for him, only to hear him quietly say, “A lot of prayer.” This is the desire of every true man of God I know.

Listen to the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” 12 verses later this same author states the most simple and profound way to do this: “Brethren, pray for us.”

On one hand you can pray for your pastor just as you do any other believer. (They are needy Christians too!)  It is also important to realize that there are specific things for which pastors need special prayer.

The Apostle Paul prayed many things for those to whom he ministered.  His prayers are worth studying, and imitating.  But what about his prayer requests?  This powerful preacher, this man of prayer, repeatedly asked church members to pray for him.  If he needed such prayer, your pastor does too!

Here is a simple prayer plan you can make your own.  It is not mine.  It comes from a pastor, evangelist, and missionary named Paul…

Sunday – pray for God to use your Pastor as he preaches God’s Word

The day of worship is also a day of work for your pastor.  He is laboring in the Word.  Working to point people to the Lord.

“Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1).

Pray that God’s Word would be given in power.  That the Lord’s will would be done.  A true pastor does not want glory; he wants God to be glorified through His Word.  Agree with him in that prayer.

Monday – pray for God to protect your pastor from every enemy

Sundays are challenging days for a pastor.  Mondays can be too!  The devil, “the accuser of the brethren,” loves to bring thoughts of discouragement.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe…” (Romans 15:30-31)

The preacher asks a similar thing in 2 Thessalonians 3:2, “pray…that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.”

Pastors frequently become the object of criticism and attack.  Pray for God to protect your pastor in every way – spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally.  Pray especially for God to protect that which is dearest to the pastor – his family.  The devil would love nothing more than to destroy another of God’s servants.  Pray.

Tuesday – pray for God to lead your pastor as he leads others

Pastors make decisions every day that affect everyone else in the congregation.  They are bishops – overseers.  Their work is to lead others as they follow God.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Thank God for your pastor and pray that God would use him.  Grateful intercession will help you have the right attitude toward “all that are in authority.”

Wednesday – pray for God to give your pastor divine appointments and spiritual power

Most pastors will be teaching and preaching the Bible at a mid-week meeting.  In addition to their public ministry, they interact every day with people who need God’s truth.

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:2-4).

Pastors spend a great deal of their life talking to others.  Pray that God would give true wisdom and Holy Spirit power to your pastors words as he preaches, teaches, counsels, witnesses, and encourages.

Thursday – pray for God to help your pastor as he deals with problems

Much of the ministry is helping people through their problems.  Pastors have problems of their own.  No one ever knows all that a pastor hears and is expected to help with.  But we can pray.

Paul was in a Roman prison cell when he wrote in Philippians 1:19, “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”

Ask God to turn the circumstances to good.  Pray that your pastor will have the help of the Holy Spirit.  You can have a part in all of those that your pastor ministers to by helping in prayer.

Friday – pray for your pastor’s personal growth and blessing

We often forget that pastors fight flesh too.  They battle the same temptations.  They face the same world.  Pray a hedge of protection about your pastor.  Ask the Lord to keep him pure and clean.

“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly” (Hebrews 13:18).

Saturday – pray for your pastor as he prepares to minister

Saturday is a day of preparation for a pastor.  While others are resting and recreating, preachers are studying and praying for the Lord’s day.  How can you pray?

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20).

Pray for utterance and boldness.  Pray that God would help your pastor to preach the truth as He should…and don’t wait for Sunday to pray!  One secret: the more you pray for your pastor, the more you will get out of his preaching!

Every day we should pray specifically and believe God for specific answers to prayer.  Pray the very words of Scripture and you will find new substance and faith in your petitions.  Remember the pastor’s prayer request: “Brethren, pray for us.”

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