Our pastors and leaders are gifts to the body of Christ and as a result serve on the frontlines of the battle of faith. Saturday night can be one of the toughest times on the frontlines for a pastor. Any night before he feeds the sheep can be stressful.
Why? Because the pastor’s number one enemy targets him for distractions. A pastor friend said, "If I was an enemy to pastors, I would do my best to keep them confused, distracted, in debt and in pain in their life and especially before any message delivering the word of God. For I know and the devil knows all it takes is one word from God to change a life."
With that in mind, are you diligent to pray for our men and women of God called as leaders? They need your prayerful attention on a consistent basis. We encourage you to pray according to God’s word, always. We offer no formulas just suggestions and tips to pray. Here are eight practical prayer suggestions to pray over your authority:
====Pray the Prayer of Agreement.====
Do you know your pastor’s vision for your church? Has he or she started a new building program? Or has he launched a campaign to reach the youth in your area? Every leader needs the agreement of its followers. If not already, find out the specific vision of your house and pray the prayer of agreement. (Matt. 18:19)
====Pray the Prayer of Safety.====
We live in a dangerous violent world. Yet God watches over his word to perform it. Pray that your leader(s) dwell in the secret place of the Most High and they remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty whose power no enemy can withstand. Thank God for the angels that he has given special charge over our leaders to accompany, defend and preserve in all their ways of obedience and service. (Isa. 26:3, Psa. 91)
====Pray the Prayer of Peace.====
Pray that God grants your leader peace that surpasses all understanding in mind, body and spirit. Pray that God grants him a peaceful dwelling place. Because we live in a fallen world, we may not always be able to enjoy a peaceful environment. But God can give us peace in the midst of a storm. Pray the prayer of peace for your authority. (Col. 3:15)
====Pray the Prayer of healing.====
Jesus paid a horrible price through his death, burial and resurrection that we might have life abundantly. Won’t you pray that your leader receives healing whenever needed? Pray that he prosper, stay in good health even as his soul prospers. (3 John 2)
====Pray the Prayer of Wisdom & Revelation.====
Pray that the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon our authorities through the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge. Ask that God will fill your leader with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. (Isa. 11:2; Col. 1:9-13)
====Pray the Prayer of Family Blessing.====
Sometimes, if the enemy can’t get to the man or woman of God he will target their family members. Pray that God grants them the joy of having every member of their families saved and healthy. Ask that their family life be blessed with special love and harmony.
====Pray the Prayer of Intercession.====
Thank Father God for Jesus who ever lives to make intercession for us. But many times in our human thinking we don’t know what we should pray. Don’t forget to periodically ask the Holy Spirit to show you what to pray over your leader. Then faithfully, stand in the gap for your pastor that he may continue to walk victoriously in every area. (Heb 7:25)
====Pray the Prayer of Financial Blessing.====
Pray that God would prosper them and give them health and bless them financially. Ask God to give them helpers who are full of the Spirit of wisdom to whom they can safely delegate the detailed duties and free them up to give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
It’s hard to imagine the darkness that won’t be held back if we don’t pray or the good that will not come because we haven’t prayed. The list above is not a comprehensive list of prayers. We have only scratched the surface with what can and should be prayed over our leaders. Join us as we become doers of this word of prayer and not just hearers by praying more for our pastors, leaders and those in authority over us.
Suggested Prayer: Lord, I thank you for our pastor (s), elders and other church leaders whom you have placed in the local body to keep us from being tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine…
Bless our leaders, Lord that they might govern your church according to your will. Help them be shepherds who never scatter the sheep, but who care for the flock, who watch for their souls, and seek those who are lost and troubled. Help me to be a support to them, to be available when they need me, to be always willing to help them and pray for them.
As Aaron and Hur upheld the arms of Moses in the heat of the battle, so may we ever uphold the arms of those you have appointed to lead us. Amen. (Excerpt from Prayers that Prevail, Victory House Publishers, Tulsa, OK)
================================================
© Varn and Earma Brown. All leaders need practical prayer support. Your leader deserves to have a chain of prayer support in place! Varn and Earma, Co-Founders of Armorbearers International, help leaders and supporters build strong teams in the local church. To receive free newsletter "The Armorbearer Coach" visit at http://www.armorbearers.net or for other insightful articles and resources.
