Prayers for our Spiritual Leaders:

I have just finished the devotional study on the book of Hebrews.  This book is really great and it really provides a lot of insight. This book has been very insightful and has really taught me a lot about Jesus and how well He is at being our better everything. 

In the last chapter of the book of Hebrews, there is a plea from the author who is unknown for prayers as they continue to lead a group of people.  This is because they know it can be really hard to be a spiritual leader for other people.  This is an important role, and it is not one to be taken lightly.  It is a big decision to decide to lead a group of people in a way to be closer to Christ.  It is also one taken over by a lot of spiritual warfare.  Satan will work extra hard to take down any member of the church, especially one who is doing a lot of work and is really developing disciples. 

The verse brought up about praying for the leaders is Hebrews 13:7 which says, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” This is a verse as a reminder to pray for those who are working for the Lord.  This isn’t just for them to stay healthy and to stay safe, but rather for them to make wise decisions.  This is to pray over their work in the Word and with the congregation.  This is to pray they feel equipped and led by the Holy Spirit to lead others in the church. 

This was a good reminder to myself that I am not always the best at praying for the pastors and the spiritual leaders who I know.   I don’t always think about them as a group of people in great need of prayer.  However, this verse and devotion was a good reminder to me about taking the time to think of them.  Through my church, I have developed more and more in praying for missionaries, so I can definitely spend time praying for my pastors and spiritual leaders in my church.  

The challenge for the week is to spend time praying for your pastor. This could be by yourself and spending time praying over the pastors when doing your private Bible study or devotion.  This could be spending time a few minutes a week in extra prayer time.  Then it could also be as a group.  It could be getting together with a group of women or men from your church and spending a good amount of time praying for the pastors and the other spiritual leaders of the church to feel God’s Holy Spirit, to feel his grace as well as to feel they are making wise and smart choices. 

The next challenge could be to spend time finding a way to encourage the pastors and the spiritual leaders at your church. Is there a way you could send them a card or write them a note to let them know you are praying for them, and show how much you appreciate them. I felt really bad a few months back when I missed the opportunity to send some cards to the pastors for their national pastoral week. I will definitely make sure to write that down in my calendar for this upcoming year. 

Another way to encourage is through finding ways to serve them.  This could be in many different ways and through different programs at the church.  It could also be through getting a group to make them meals when there is a really busy season of life.  This could be through checking in on them and asking to help with any childcare if they should need it.  

I should say this doesn’t always have to be just the pastors, but it can be all missionaries or it can be all our Bible Study leaders and ministers who we know are also diligently serving the Lord and serving the people in the church.  They also need our support and our prayers.  This could also be the wives of the pastors and prominent members.  They see the hardship and the strife their husbands face on a regular basis.  We need to be good members of the body and this means we can not forget about those who are at the top.