A Great Way to Show Appreciation for Our Pastors
Would your church survive without your pastor? How would it change your community if your pastor were no longer there? What kind of impact do they have on your family? On you?
One of the best ways we can show our pastors we appreciate them is to tell them we’re praying for them – and then actually do it. Often.
Our pastors need our prayers. Like us, they need discernment regarding their families, encouragement when they feel emotionally beaten up, and wisdom in their finances. Sometimes they need an outright financial breakthrough.
And ministers often feel lonely.
They long for close friends with whom they can honestly share their struggles without risking their credibility as a spiritual leader. We can pray God will send them an encourager, like Barnabus was to the apostle Paul (Acts 9:27).
Let’s also pray our pastors will never forget how much God loves them and will experience God’s love, grace and mercy on a daily basis. With everything going on at home, in their church and in their community, ask God to give them faith to trust their powerful, wise and loving heavenly Father with all of it.
We can pray that our spiritual leaders will love God with everything they’ve got. Jesus said,
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 ESV
And while we’re praying, let’s ask God to help them to know and understand God’s Word and . . .
Be filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9 ESV
As our pastors grow in their love for God and in their understanding of His Word, they’ll be better equipped to receive the direction and discernment they need to counsel married couples and single parents, comfort the grieving and advise those in difficult circumstances.
The enemy would love to trip up our pastors. Let’s intercede for them to hold on to the Words of Christ, the very Word of God that has kept their faith strong. Then they can stand against wickedness and not lose sight of what’s important. If they cling to God’s Word, they’ll never compromise their convictions or water down the message in order to increase church attendance.
Our pastors are an intricate part of our communities and our own lives. As our leaders, they carry a huge spiritual weight. Consider how much greater this weight would be if we didn’t intercede for them.
Let’s pray for our pastors. Often.
What do you think?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Others might also benefit from your comment.)
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This is SO important! Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you, Barbara. I agree, praying for our pastors is so very important.
And thank you for sharing my devotion on your Facebook page. I always appreciate it when you do.
Yes! We need to always pray for our pastors and their families. I needed this reminder.
Truth be told, Sharon, I sometimes need to be reminded to pray for my pastor too.
It’s nice to see you again. Please stop by Today Can Be Different often!
Sheryl, thank you for your exceptional blog message this week. Your message reminds us that we each need to consider the importance of coming alongside our pastors and their wives and children to show them our love and encouragement for all they do in our churches. Our own pastor’s wife mentioned just last week that many are leaving their churches because they are feeling lonely and even sometimes unappreciated. She related that many are feeling that they have lost the ability to impact the hearts of their flock for His purpose and glory. May we reach out to them and let them know that their service and faithfulness to God continues to be a source of encouragement to us! Amen! ❤ [Shared on our A Women’s Fellowship/Ministry community page and on my Timeline.]
Amen!! Indeed!! I appreciate every point you made, Joyce — including the part about how discouraged many pastors are becoming.
And thank you, Joyce, for sharing my devotion on the Women’s Fellowship/Ministry community page and on your Facebook page.
My dad used to make the comment, “Who ministers to the minister.”
In my church fortunate to have retired pastors in it. That gives an outlet for any minister I think.
My men’s group actually has 3 retired ministers in it. All as participants rather than leaders most of the time. One has a number of books which we have decided to use at times. In fact currently using one of them. Interesting as get additional insight. Like others they share the joys and pains in their lives over the years.
Hello, Brooks. Welcome to Today Can Be Different.
I love your comment. It begs the question: Can (and should) retired pastors offer themselves as “ministers to the minsiter[s]”? It could be a real key to providing retired pastors an ongoing purpose while giving the younger ministers a trustworthy person to confide in.
What do you think, Brooks?