Dear Church Family,
A pastor friend challenged me this week to make sure I take good care of myself during the pandemic. I appreciated his advice and promised I would eat right, exercise and try to get enough sleep. Before I could tell him about other areas of my life that I would tend to, he lovingly cut me and let me know he was pretty sure I would take care of myself in a variety of areas – physical and spiritual. He then encouraged me to let the church help me in one major way. So I now ask you to help me. The way he thinks (and I concur) the best way you as my church family can assist me as your pastor is by praying for me. Let me share some ways you can pray. [These ideas come from a variety of ministry sources.]
Pray that your pastor would fear God and not man. It is easy for pastors to get this backwards. I am ultimately accountable to God though as a human I want to be liked. As one veteran pastor said, “Pray that your pastor would stand in awe of God above all else. Pray that he would be, as John Piper often says, a “God-besotted” man who treasures, loves, savors and fears the tribune God.” As I have written about the glory almost exclusively for two weeks, you would think this happen easily.
Pray that your pastor would have great confidence in God’s Word and the gospel. The temptation always lurks to use worldly means to produce spiritual fruit. Pray that I would without apology hold to the authority of Scripture and that it alone is the power of God unto salvation. Pray also that I would preach “the whole counsel of God” and not just cherry pick passages that people will like.
Pray that your pastor would grow in godliness. The day a seminary professor said the average church is only as holy as its pastor almost became my last day of seminary. By the end of the class he had persuaded all of us to continue in our studies. A study of the requirements for an elder in 1 Timothy sees its focus on character. It is humbling to think that any man can match up to those standards. God uses imperfect people to serve His church. Pray that I would be found worthy of the high calling of pastor.
Pray that your pastor would have great wisdom. James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for wisdom with the promise that He will give generously. Ministry in its many forms requires great wisdom. Many decisions require much thought while some must be dealt with right away. Biblical wisdom must guide all this church does.
Pray that your pastor would rest and rejoice. Pastors tend to be workaholics. That deadly disease hits me only a few times a year. I have learned I should strive to be efficient yet not a slave to the to-do list. Certain items must be checked of the list each week. I have learned that I am not a machine and must take at least one day off a week. I am grateful for the sabbatical I was given last year. Somehow the church functioned well while I was gone six weeks. I could rejoice that this church belongs to Jesus and not me.
Pray that your pastor would love well. These words sum it up well, “Pastoral work is people work, which is why pastoring is rewarding. And it’s also why pastoral ministry is hard. People disappoint. People sin. People attack. People typically grow very slowly. The Bible often compares the work of ministry to farming. Making disciples of people can be slow, exhausting, heart-breaking labor. ..Ask the Lord to give him faith in God’s promises to bring the elect to maturity so that he would not grow weary in making disciples.”
Thank you for praying for your pastor. He certainly needs it. May God be glorified in and through Him!
Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin