Pastors Need Prayer

All believers need prayer and they too must be people of prayer. Why? Because all humans made in the image of God are targets of satan. Through prayer we can access and petition our Heavenly Father to change and intervene into our earthly situation so things on earth become as they are in heaven. This page was created specifically to pray for pastors. However, it is important to point out that prayer to our Heavenly Father for His kingdom to come and His Will to be done is essential for everyone. 

All who leads God’s Children must have a Pastor’s heart. Why? To lead you should feed those you lead with knowledge and understanding of the word of God. In Jeremiah 3:15 the word of God says, “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”  We see that pastors were given an amazing assignment from God in the Old Testament and are also counted the fourth on the five-fold list that Jesus gave in the New testament, in Ephesians 4:11-13 the bible said, “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” 

Though this page is entitled “prayer for pastors,” we are praying for all those who leads. All those who leads should have a pastor’s heart and must be lifted up daily to God in prayer and they too must be people of prayer.  Satan works overtime trying to take those assigned by God down, hoping that if they fall, the flock will scatter. We are cautioned in the word of God to:  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  Therefore, prayer must be the seal of all leaders separated by God from the world as they spend time with God in their secret closet daily. In the secret closet they are effectually petitioning heaven to affect the earth. Prayer will always advance the work of God because it is in prayer that we receives our instructions from God. Jesus our Lord and Saviour shows us that the path to God is prayer; that’s why praying men moves God’s saving hands. Prayer distinguishes them by setting them apart as effectual dedicated servants and succeeds through them when all else fails.  

THE WORD PASTOR IN ACRONYM – BY VANESSA SIROKI

O – Obedient

Father, I pray that Your pastors will always walk in obedience to Your words and that they will never bring reproach to the office that You have called and chosen for them. Father I pray for men after Your own heart. I pray that they will walk in obedience to Your will in everything just like Jesus.  Amen.

R- Reputation

Father, I pray that Your pastors will have a good Reputation so that they will never cause a reproach against Your name. Help them do nothing, Lord, that would tarnish their reputation or cause them to stumble.  May they live according to Proverbs 22:1, 2 Cor. 6:3 Matt.5;16  In Jesus Name Amen. 

For A Strong Marriage and Family

Heavenly Father God it was You who said that it was not good for the man to be alone. In Ecclesiastes 4:9 the bible says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?” Ephesians 5:25, God’s word gave a mandate to the husband of what God expect of him, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”  Father keep Your pastors marriages and help them to remain strong and stand firm. Father, I pray that no pastors marriages and families fall apart under the strain of pastoral ministry, because Your Yoke is easy and Your burden is light. Father we know that satan loves to sabotage a pastor’s family, because when that happens so many lives get affected and can be destroyed. So today we pray to you for healthy marriages and families; so as they managed their own household and take care of it; they can also take care of the House of God in Jesus name. 

For Protection Against His Own Sinful and Selfish Desires

Father thank You for protecting all those that you appoint to lead. Help them to dwell in Your secret place. Jesus it is You who have overcome the world for them.”Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). So Father, please protect Your leaders/pastors and give them strength to endure temptation and stand firm against the lies of the enemy. Remind them Father, if You be for them who can be against them and also that it is only when they take their eyes off Jesus their Redeemer and instead place their eyes on self or others; then failure is inevitable.Your word tell us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). When a pastor believe the lies of the enemy presented to him by his flesh, he will begin to look and walk away from the things of God for his life. Father, I pray that Your pastors will be on guard against is number one enemy; which is his flesh. Father I pray that they would have a proper fear of You God. Father, please protect Your pastors from the deceitfulness of sin that we all are so prone to. Keep him close to You and close to Your words in Jesus name Amen. 

For Faithfulness To Your Words

Many Pastors are tempted and have even fallen into such temptation to modify the words of God.  This often time is for various reasons. It could be personal, cultural pressures, political correctness, church members – who might be big tithers or family members which could intimidate them and make them feel that the only way out is to give up the clear teaching of Scripture and compromise. Father, I pray that You will give them extra grace to stay faithful to Your words. Father help them to stand in boldness like Peter and Paul; pleasing You God and not man and to keep on praying for strength where they are lacking. Father I pray that the enemy will never establish a foothold in any area of Your leaders/pastors lives because they have given place to him (Ephesians 4:27). May they continually submit to You, Father, just like you tell them to do in James 4:7 in Jesus Name Amen.

For His Health

Ministry can take a tremendous toll on a leaders/pastors body. Long nights, stressful situations, and weekly discouragement by the very people that God entrusted in their care can lead to burnout, bagdown and bailout. Not only do pastor’s need spiritual strength, they need physical strength as well. Father, today I pray that all Your pastors, all those who leads Your people will be sustained in body and mind in Jesus Name Amen.

For The Blessing of Godly Friend

Pastoral ministry can be surprisingly lonely. Something about being in a position of leadership isolates the servant of God. People look to him to be a teacher and leader, not be their close friend. Pastors need close godly friends who will encourage them, hold them accountable, and push them towards the cross of Jesus Christ – even Jesus need a Peter, James and John, So Father, I pray for Godly friendship for all Your Pastors in Jesus Name.

Concluding Prayer For Pastors and Leaders by Vanessa Siroki

Heavenly Father, I commit daily with dedication to pray for pastors and all those in leadership. Father this is a prayer that I believe must be prayed for all Your children; Your servants. I pray that they will never walk in the council of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners. They will always delight in Your law and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:1-2). May the words of their mouths and the meditation of their hearts be acceptable in Your sight (Psalm 19:14). May You, O Lord, give Your servants the desire of their hearts once it lines up with Your divine will for their lives. Father make all  their plans succeed (Psalm 20:4). Father, cause Your favour to rest upon them and establish the work of their hands in Jesus name. And Father, help them to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of Your might. To put on the whole armour of God, that they may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For (they) wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore, Father, I pray that they take the whole armour of God, that they may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Apostle, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastor, Teachers and all good and Faithful servants of the Most High God – stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, Father help them to take the shield of faith, wherewith they shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18). Father give them the desire to pray in the Spirit at all times making their request known to You. The blood of Jesus covering is over their families. Thank You for Your angel that encamp around them day and night and because they dwell in Your secret place they abide under Your shadow. I pray that they will hold fast to the liberty where Christ has made them free and that they will not be  entangle anymore in no deceitful or distracting yoke of bondage. Father, please protect Your pastors/leaders from failing or falling in the trap of enemy. Give them the strength to endure temptation and stand firm. Father help them to stand for You in Jesus Name. Help them to stand firm in Your Service and to never be entangled in the yoke of bondage from what You pulled them out and redeemed them from. Help them to humble themselves under Your mighty hand, so that You will lift them up (1 Peter 5:6)? Guide them in what is right and teach them Your ways God (Psalm 25:9). Father like the picture above with Your mountain facing upwards; Father I pray that they will always look to the hills from whence cometh their help according to Psalm 121:1,2. And Father like the  picture below of a road shrouded with leaves that they cannot see clearly what is ahead; Father I pray that they will trust Your leading even if they cannot see clearly where they are going. Remind them Father that Your eyes are in every place according to Your words in Proverbs 15:3. You are their eyes God; you are their everything; their very present help. Help them to deny themselves daily and take up their cross to follow Jesus every day. Father You will keep them and uphold them with the right hand of Your righteousness. Father help them to walk in humility so that they can always obtain Your grace. Father, You have said that the one You esteem is the person who is humble and are obedient to Your Words. Help Your pastors/leaders to be such a person!In Jesus Name Amen.