How to Pray for Your Pastor

How to Pray for Your Pastor


So far in the How to Pray for series, we’ve looked at How to Pray for Missionaries and How to Pray for Your Kids. Today, I want to take a look at How to Pray for Your Pastor.

Any church may have a mighty man of God for its pastor, if it is willing to pay the price, and that price is not a big salary, but great praying. – RA Torrey, The Power of Prayer

A great way to pray for your pastor is to use the acrostic of P-A-S-T-O-R to remember specific requests to pray about:

  • P: Purity. Pray that your pastor will remain pure in the face of constant pressure in an immoral culture (1 Timothy 3.7b).
  • A: Adversity. Pray for your pastor that he will be able to confront adversity with faith and endurance (1 Peter 1.6-9).
  • S: Strength. Most pastors work long hours and at least six days a week. Pray that he will have the strength to continue his ministry (2 Thessalonians 2.16-17).
  • T: Teaching. Pray for your pastor that his teaching and preaching will be effective, powerful, and clear (Colossians 3.4).
  • O: Organization. Your pastor has more to do than any one person can handle. Pray for your pastor that he will be able to prioritize correctly (Ephesians 5.15-17).
  • R: Rest. Your pastor needs rest. Pray that your pastor will sleep well each night and that he will take enough time away from ministry so that he does not get worn out (Matthew 11.28).

You could also use this prayer calendar to pray for your pastor each day of the week:

  • Sunday: Pray for your pastor’s ministry.
  • Monday: Pray for your pastor’s relationship with the Lord.
  • Tuesday: Pray for your pastor’s relationship with the congregation and community.
  • Wednesday: Pray for your pastor’s leadership, guidance, and direction.
  • Thursday: Pray for your pastor’s protection, health, and wholeness.
  • Friday: Pray for your pastor’s stewardship and priorities.
  • Saturday: Pray for your pastor’s family.

Revive our Hearts has put together 31 Days of Praying for Your Pastor and 31 Days of Praying for Your Pastor’s Wife that would be great resources to print out and keep with your prayer list.

How do you pray for your pastor?


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17 Comments

  1. I love this! I don't know why… but reading this brought tears to my eyes! Thank you so much for training others how to pray from men like my husband! So often pastors don't get to hear the prayers that are said specifically that are for them. I know they are praying for him – but posts like this make ministry worth it!

    Thank you- more than you know!!!

  2. This is one of those posts that I need to read regularly. I love the
    quote at the beginning – it puts everything else into perspective. If I'm
    not intentional about praying for my pastor, I tend to forget. I pray that
    this post will help others to remember to PRAY for their pastors, rather
    than complain and critique. I'm glad the post encouraged you!

  3. Hi there! I found your blog while looking through things for AOP but I had to comment personally. This is a great post and I love the acrostic! I've been pondering how to pray for and honor my pastor better lately as well and this was really helpful. (Ryan from AOP, and I am an Offering)

  4. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I'm glad that the post will
    help you to better pray for your pastor!

  5. What an excellent aid to prayer. Our church is about to have select another pastor since the one we have is retiring next year after 35 years of service to our Lord and his people. My husband was on the committee that called him. I know it is going to be a trying time and I thank you for this wonderful aid. I will begin to use it now for our existing pastor and for the one that will come after.

  6. I received a card with these prayer aids on it from my home church while
    they were looking for a new senior pastor. It has been a blessing to have.
    Thanks for taking the time to comment, and may God bless you as you bless
    your pastor(s) in this special ministry of prayer!

  7. I love this post! Thank you for sharing it! I'm gonna share it with my friends. I can't wait to read all your other series…especially how to pray for your kids.

    I'm a new follower form Gather Inspirit!

  8. I just discovered this series today as you're wrapping it up (new Twitter follow). But the timing is still good, as I posted this quote to my Facebook this morning.

    It doesn't really say HOW to pray for the pastor, but it sure does make for a strong, imperative WHY!

    "Because the pastor is subject to many temptations, and the devil and his evil
    servants war against him most especially, therefore he also needs the
    special help and support of God. Then you, and all the people as well,
    must pray to God for him that He may help him and strengthen him."
    –St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

  9. I just discovered this series today as you're wrapping it up (new Twitter follow). But the timing is still good, as I posted this quote to my Facebook this morning.

    It doesn't really say HOW to pray for the pastor, but it sure does make for a strong, imperative WHY!

    "Because the pastor is subject to many temptations, and the devil and his evil
    servants war against him most especially, therefore he also needs the
    special help and support of God. Then you, and all the people as well,
    must pray to God for him that He may help him and strengthen him."
    –St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

  10. Thank you for this post. its encouraging and it will helps me and the church to pray to our pastor everyday.

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