Lent Day 24: Praying for Spiritual Leaders

“Pray also for me that whenever I open my mouth,

Words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known

The mystery of the gospel.”

Ephesians 6:19

On this twenty-fourth lenten morning, the Holy Spirit has graciously brought to my conscience yet another item to rend -- my tendency to neglect praying on behalf of individuals placed in spiritual leadership positions.

In Colossians 4:12, we have a picture of a man of God who wrestles continually in prayer for the sake of the body of Christ in general, and for the sake of the local body of believers placed under his care. His name is Epaphras, someone the apostle Paul considers to be “a faithful minister of Christ” to the Colossian believers. A pastor who clearly understood that a successful ministry relied heavily on prayer, Epaphras worked hard on behalf of his Colossian brothers and sisters praying that they would “stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”

Despite the fact that both Epaphras and Paul prayed fervently for the body of Christ, the Word of God plainly charges not only spiritual leaders but all believers to “pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests . . . to be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18) 

Indeed, prayer is one of God’s most cherished gifts from His bride. He delights in His people and is so pleased when they call out to Him that the prayers of the saints are kept in precious bowls full of incense (Revelation 5:8)—a pleasing aroma to His nostrils. Christ also loves the church to such an extent that He places reliable leaders to care for, guide, and instruct His people under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Still, being God’s co-workers, His grace to His people was not granted in vain because such spiritual and reliable leaders are only as strong and effective as the intensity of the prayers of the saints—hence, Paul requests the assistance of the believers (Eph. 6:19).

Should we not pray for our spiritual leaders? The body of Christ should tremble with fear should there ever be designated leaders who come forward without ample prayer support from faithful warriors. Indeed, the Word invites us to eagerly and graciously bathe in prayer and fasting every endeavor of our leaders to greet, pray, exhort, admonish, serve, encourage, or minister. When the people of God pray for those in leadership positions, the Word of God is proclaimed with boldness and clarity, new opportunities arise for the message of transformation to be spoken and shared, and hearts are further made aware of the full and gracious blessedness that is theirs in Christ Jesus.

As we approach the holiness of God, let us be mindful that spiritual leaders are human, too. Though they face the same challenges and temptations as the rest of us do, theirs are accompanied with unequalled scrutiny and responsibility. Let us eagerly pray that their ministerial tasks would cause neither physical nor emotional burnout, neither relational strife nor imbalance between the multiple hats worn by them.

Let us pray that their eyes and minds would be enlightened by the vision of Christ, that their hearts and faith would be strengthened continually, that their study sessions would grow increasingly more Spirit-filled and productive, and that their overall spiritual condition would become more reliant on Christ’s sufficiency.

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace on behalf of our spiritual leaders -- today, tonight, tomorrow. Let us write them notes of encouragement and gratitude, and let us tell them we are praying for them.

Let us pray!

“If my people, who are called by My name,

Will humble themselves and pray

And seek My face and turn from their wicked ways,

Then I will hear from heaven

And will forgive their sin

And will hear their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV

“As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes,

so it is the business of Christians to pray.”

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Father, You alone are the sure defense of Your people.

It is so very easy for us

to look at pastors and other spiritual leaders,

to trust our own strategies and resources,

to rely on our own principles

instead of trusting Your help.

And so, we fail time and again . . .

Our spiritual leaders, too, fail when we fail to pray for them.

In fact, Your Word says in 1 Samuel 12:23, “Far be it from [us] that [we] should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for [the Lord’s anointed].”

Help us to remember that You determine the fate of Your people.

You raise up spiritual leaders and pull them down

according to their acceptance or rejection of Your truth.

We are at the disposal of Your wisdom, O Lord;

Our fate is in Your hands alone.

No power on earth,

No resource in this world,

No strategy, no growth plan, no seminary degree

but prayer in accordance with Your will and grace

can transform Your people

into the likeness of Christ.

Thank You for being poised to send heavenly resources to our aid.

Thank You for desiring our sincere, humble, and devoted intercession—

our brokenness, contrition, confession, repentance, and petition—

and for using it all for Your holy purposes.

May we put sackcloth on our hearts and souls

on behalf of our pastor—Your anointed!

Help us to remember that, we, too, are anointed through Your blood and sacrifice

to enter Your holy of holies on behalf of our pastor.

Hear our prayer, O Lord!