What to Pray for Your Leaders

Doug Hornok   -   December 17, 2022
This coming weekend, MBC welcomes Duane and Laura Nelson and their 4 children, Isaiah, Paxton, Abigail (Gabi), and Connor. Duane will become the Associate Pastor of MBC. After more than two years of searching, the Elder Board is confident that Duane will make a wonderful addition to our ministry. The success of ministry depends upon leaders functioning well, staying close to the Lord, and working together cooperatively. I would like to make ten suggestions for how you can pray for your leadership here at MBC. These apply to the Pastoral staff, Elders, and Deacons.
Please pray for:
  1. A strong sense of God’s call upon their life. No matter the role, every leader needs to remember, “It is the Lord Christ whom ye serve.” (Colossians 3:24). We are not our own but have been bought with a price and need to glorify God.
  2. An increasingly deeper love for the Lord Jesus Christ. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
  3. A devotion to the Scriptures. “I have esteemed the words of Thy mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). Pray that all the leaders of MBC will hunger for the riches and delights of God’s Word the way we hunger for a delicious carrot or cheesecake!
  4. A sincere love for people, all kinds of people. Pastors, Elders, and Deacons all shepherd, feed, care for, and are to love the Lord’s people. That devotion to people stems from a love for the Lord Himself.
  5. A great relationship with their spouse. “Husband, love your wife even as Christ loved the church….” (Ephesians 5:25). Peter told his audience that husbands and wives “are heirs together of the grace of life” (I Peter 3:7).   Husbands must take the initiative in protecting quality time with his wife and children.
  6. Good health. “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (III John 2). Leaders must be proactive in guarding their health.
  7. Wisdom in decision-making. “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…” (James 1:5). Leaders, especially Pastors, are called to make decisions a hundred times every day: How to spend their limited time and energies, which crisis to respond to, how to deal with a problem. Church leaders have a job that is 24/7/365 and live in a world of unfinished business.
  8. That they may be protected from an enlarged ego. “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you…(not) as lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock…. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you….” (I Peter 5). No matter the size of a church, it’s easy to have an unhealthy ego, no matter the level of leadership. Pray that Church leaders will never believe all the flattery of their best supporters nor take to heart the negativism of their detractors. Ask the Lord to keep them balanced and humble.
  9. That they will have a sweet servant spirit. A “gentle and quiet spirit (is) very precious in the sight of God” (I Peter 3:4). The ideal church leader is gentle and kind when dealing with people and strong and forceful when needed. The Lord Jesus said of Himself, “I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). People noticed how Jesus was “moved with compassion” (Matthew 9:36). Pray that our leaders will be like Him.
  10. That God will give leaders a group of great advisors and mentors. I have always appreciated the reliable and trustworthy advice I’ve been given through the years by good and godly men. And having served 6 different churches, I am thankful for the leadership at MBC!