It’s 5:30 a.m., and the alarm begins its shrill alert. Though he’s already been awake for a bit, the day’s tasks begin to loom heavy on the mind of the pastor. The dog needs to be let out, then there are emails to answer and sermon notes to condense. But first, he shuffles to the kitchen for the caffeinated elixir that’ll get his brain firing this early. On the way, he stops to click the remote off, since someone in the house has left the TV on all night, yet again.
“Best Dad Ever” mug in hand, dog and TV taken care of, he settles into his study for time with his Father. It’s another hour before the rest of the house starts stirring — the perfect time to get alone in the Word and prepare for a full day ahead.
He bows his head to commune with God, praying for his church: that widow in desperate need of a working vehicle, that family in crisis he hasn’t seen walk through the church doors in a while, the senior saint on his third round of chemo in the week ahead, that couple praying over their prodigal, the addict who sleeps on a bench in the church parking lot from time to time, and the list goes on.
Then there are his own family’s needs. “Oh, there’s so much to be thankful for. But, Lord, we need rest,” is the cry of his heart.
In a 2022 Barna report, the number of pastors considering leaving full-time ministry has sharply risen to the tune of two in five. Pastoral burnout is real and is on the rise. Spiritual discouragement can easily creep in. Loneliness, lack of support, frustration, mistrust, and mental exhaustion are not in short supply among pastors these days.
But how can the Church help?
There are a number of things Christians can do to help the pastors in their lives, from a thriving deacon ministry to regular church volunteer days to flat out meeting the physical needs of pastors and their families. Yet perhaps the most important thing we ought to commit to on a regular basis is praying for our pastors.
If you have not previously committed to praying for your pastor(s), you may not know how or even where to start. There are a number of clues in scripture to help us in this area, but for now, let’s focus on Paul’s second letter to Timothy, as he’s preparing him for the passing of the torch in furthering his ministry. The first eight verses of chapter four are rich with application, with verse five being our focus for prayer:
“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5
In this passage, Paul is exhorting his son in the faith, Timothy, a young pastor himself. Paul knows his time on earth is coming to a swift end, and he has some parting words of wisdom for his protégé and, in turn, pastors for centuries to come.
Based on this text, here are four ways you can specifically pray for your pastors:
To sum all of these points up, here is a daily breakdown to guide how you can pray for your pastors throughout the week:
Monday – Pray for your pastor’s preaching, that it would be presented without compromise and that God’s Word would not return void.
Tuesday – Pray for their counseling and that they would seek counsel — that they may not only provide wise guidance, but that they would also receive counsel well from others.
Wednesday – Pray for their protection. Pastors walk with a clear target on their backs, and Satan consistently attempts to pull them down in the eyes of others, diminishing their ministry.
Thursday – Pray for their relationships — that God would give them grace to strengthen their marriages, give them wisdom in raising and biblically disciplining their children (if they have any), and give them ability to nurture godly relationships both inside and outside their congregations.
Friday – Pray for their personal spiritual walk. This is the number one thing that directly affects their ministry.
Saturday – Pray for any of their personal prayer requests, including intentional times of restorative rest.
Sunday – Come together as a church to pray corporately for your pastors and each other.
Though our pastors may not ask for it openly, they desperately need our prayers. Even Paul urged those he loved to lift him and his fellow workers in ministry up to God in prayer:
“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.” Romans 15:30
“Brethren, pray for us.” 1 Thessalonians 5:25
To all of the pastors in our lives — those who are called by God to proclaim Jesus Christ to the world, who labor tirelessly and many times unrecognized — thank you! You deserve much more than one month of appreciation.
Excerpts used with permission from a sermon by:
Phelps, C. (2023, March 26). The Church Needs to Pray for its Pastor [Sermon audio recording] Palm Bay, FL, USA.
This article can also be seen on the Christian Post.