Praying Strategically for Your Spiritual Leaders

Leith Anderson writes about a critical turning point in the American War of Independence, the Battle of Saratoga. The Patriots faced a British regiment with more soldiers, muskets, gunpowder, and shot. Daniel Morgan, the commanding officer for a ragtag group of farmers known as ‘Morgan’s Rifles,’ walked among his men the night before the battle, October 6, 1777. His orders: ‘Don’t waste your shot on those who fight for six pence a day, save your shot for the epaulet men.’  His point was simple. Limited ammunition meant they needed to use what they had where it would have the greatest effect. Rather than focusing on the foot soldier, they were to target the officers, those with epaulets on their shoulders. By the second day of the battle, the British officer ranks were decimated, their tactical plan confused. Though they still had plenty of soldiers, firepower, and supplies, the British were forced to surrender. Those who serve today know officers no longer wear such distinguishing marks in battle! (Dying for Change, Bethany House 1998)

Surrender of General Burgoyne by John Trumbull

I know of no greater kindness my people can do for me than to pray for me.

Paul understood the critical need for prayer. At a particularly discouraging time in his life, he wrote the church in Corinth: ‘You must help us by prayer so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.’ (2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV) Using the adage, ‘prayer must be Scripture-led and Spirit-fed,’ we can look to Paul’s letter to the Romans (15:30-33) for a practical guide on how to pray for leaders. Understanding prayer is not like a good recipe: simply follow a set of mechanical directions and everything turns out right in the end; there are some essential elements of praying found in these few verses. (See D.A. Carson Praying with Paul and Daniel Henderson Your Most Strategic Investment)

First, note the earnestness, urgency, and persistence that must characterize our praying. Paul passionately asked, ‘I beg you… strive together with me in prayers to God for me.’ (15:30) He speaks of praying like the strenuous discipline of an athlete. This is more than routine praying; it is prayer work. Prayer has been called the ‘gymnasium of the soul,’ because the struggle, discipline, and spiritual agonizing against the enemy are intense. (Carson, Praying with Paul p. 188) Praying this way takes the spiritual battle seriously and puts on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). John Piper reminds us, ‘until you believe that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for.’ The battle is waged first on our knees. Paul understood talking to people about God is essential, but first, we must talk to God about people.

Rather than a religiously tame ritual, prayer is actually the most important and strategic work of kingdom advancement. It might be the least tame thing we do!
(DNA of a Revolution)

Notice Paul’s prayer requests. He asked them to pray he would ‘be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe.’ (v. 31) Paul planned a stop in Jerusalem, and the danger was real. (Acts 20:22-24)  Our leaders often operate behind enemy lines, taking ground the enemy does not want to give up. Those of us who hold the spiritual rope of prayer need to remember the risk and pray for their safety.

Paul also requested ‘that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.’ We often face opposition from within as well as from without. Believers are at all levels of spiritual maturity. We need to pray for the Father to be at work in the hearts of those in the church, making them open, receptive and supportive of the ministry of the leaders. Pray for the hard work of leading, disciple-making, encouraging and equipping the saints for the work of ministry. (Ephesians 4:11-16) 

Leaders want more than just to get through another day, though it may feel that way at times. There are present challenges, but also new opportunities. They have a passion for the gospel to be shared with those who have not heard and the church to be strengthened. Paul would write: 'Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.' (2 Corinthians 11:28)

We must understand the importance of strategic, intentional, prayer support for the sake of the gospel. Jesus taught us when we see the overwhelming need for the gospel to pray for more laborers. (Matthew 9:36-38) Paul’s rock-solid conviction that the Father fulfills His purposes in response to the prayers of His people motivated him to pray often for the saints and urge them to pray for him. He understood that if his dreams for the gospel were to be realized, he must be utterly dependent on the Father.

Were his prayers answered? When you review his journey in Acts 21:17-28:31, you see the amazing story of answers to the passionate prayers of the Roman believers. While in Jerusalem, forty antagonistic Jews vowed not to eat or drink until they killed Paul. By the hand of the Father, he traveled to Caesarea with the protection of 470 soldiers! Surviving shipwreck and snake bite, he arrived in Rome only to be held under house arrest. The result: ‘Paul… received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.’ (Acts 28:30-31)

One of the constitutional enforcements of the gospel is prayer. Without prayer, the gospel can neither be preached effectively, promulgated faithfully, experienced in the heart, nor be practiced in the life. And for the very simple reason that by leaving prayer out of the catalogue of religious duties, we leave God out, and His work cannot progress without Him.

Pastors say the role can be tough:

• 84% say they are on call 24 hours a day
• 80% expect conflict in their church
• 54% find the role of pastor frequently overwhelming
• 53% are often concerned about their family’s financial security
• 48% often feel the demands of ministry are more than they can handle
• 35% say the demands of ministry prevent them from spending time with their family
• 21% say their church has unrealistic expectations of them

Pastor, if you need help, please call. You can reach me at 614.601.6820 or SteveHopkins@scbo.org
Contact info for all those who serve Mission Ohio is available at scbo.org.

You can also contact:

Care for Pastors
care4pastors.com

Focus on the Family Pastor Care
Line 844-4PASTOR

NAMB Pastor Care Line
844-PASTOR1