IronGuys Law Enforcement Ministries
"WORDS OF WISDOM"
By Police Chaplains
“Pray for Your Pastor”
By
Doni Daudel
Chaplain, Beaumont (CA) Police Department
17-pray without ceasing. 25-Brethren, pray for us. 1Thessalonians 5:17,25
Prayer: “Talking to God.” Prayer is how we communicate with our Father in Heaven. In Blue Letter Bible, the word “prayer” is used 106 times and the word “pray” is used 139 times in the NKJV.” When we pray we can pray for ourselves and the needs of others. Paul the apostle understood and believed deeply in the power of prayer. In our verses above, Paul is telling us to pray without ceasing and asking the people to pray for him and those ministering with him. This principle is important for all believers to remember.
Pastors are on the front line and in the crosshairs of the enemy. If a man is called to preach and teach, and prayerfully answers that call, their trials increase ten fold. The attacks can come in the form being lied about, defamed, betrayed and attacks that can be physical, emotional and spiritual. Our church has a Mens Prayer Group that meets every Thursday morning at 7am to pray. Our pastor, Chris, always attends unless he has a prior commitment. Pastor Chris’ father-in-law also attends our prayer meeting and led us in praying for pastor Chris this past Thursday. It was so powerful. Over 20 men laid hands on pastor Chris and prayed for God to provide, protect, encourage, guide and equip pastor Chris to lead our church and his family. Pastor Chris truly has the heart of a shepherd.
Do you pray for your pastor and his family? Are you actively and daily praying for God to give your pastor great wisdom combined with submission, humility and obedience to follow and fulfill Gods call in his life? Friends, if you don’t I cannot encourage you enough to start, and pray for all of your pastors. Every time they teach, preach or counsel, they are responsible for us. That’s a seriously heavy burden they bear. Our coming alongside and interceding of their behalf means more than you know! Remember; the man behind the pulpit is just like us. He struggles, becomes overwhelmed, feels defeated and still steps up to serve God and love and tend the sheep God has entrusted to his care. That’s why our prayers mean everything to them and their families. Have you lifted your pastors up in prayer today? If not, now would be a great time to do just that.