A prayer for your pastors, for the week of July 25, 2016

Father in heaven, the door to your house is always open and you stand in the doorway to welcome us each time we come to you in prayer.  We love your warm, loving embrace and your invitation to come in and sit a while.  You want us to pour out our hearts while you listen and respond.  Then you say, “consider it done according to your faith.”

I’m here on behalf of your servant-leaders, my pastor and other pastors I know.  I also offer this on behalf of all believing pastors, being convinced you respond to my prayer in such a way that it is effective in touching the lives of all these pastors who are in my heart and mind.  They will be ministering and serving you in some way or other today.  May it not be in their own strength but in yours.  Empower them by your Holy Spirit in order that they may succeed in all you’ve called them to today.  Yes Lord!

Help them so that their walk is blameless, and their doings are all righteous, and their words all come from their hearts in truth and pass your truth test.  Help them to slander no one either by their tongue or in their hearts.  May they not be jealous of any brother or sister pastor or in any way bring harm to the name and work of another today as they serve you.  Yes Lord!

May they not in any way speak approvingly of vile people who call good evil and evil good, right wrong and wrong right.  There is so much of this today.  As they serve you today may they bring honor to and speak approvingly of those who serve you!  May they keep their word in whatever they commit themselves to today, not changing their minds even when it costs them to do so.  May they personally help the poor and never work against the innocent in their congregations.  May their people, your people, call them blessed, and pronounce blessing on them today.  At the end of the day may they put their heads on their pillows and fall asleep in peace knowing your presence.

In this my prayer and in each of these pastors may you, Father, be blessed, served and pleased.  We do love you and give ourselves to you afresh today.  In the mighty name of Jesus, so be it!