Praying for your pastor is one of the greatest ways you can bless and support them.
Praying for our pastors and leaders is a habit that we should all be disciplining ourselves in. I’ll be the first to admit that I have not been praying for the leaders in my life as often as I should. I want to change that. The Lord has been convicting me of the importance of praying for my pastors and leaders on a regular basis.
Scriptural prayers for pastors and leaders are a great way to pray with power and effectiveness.
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What Does the Bible Say About Praying for Our Pastors?
We have all been given gifts by the Spirit to be used in building up the body of Christ. We are all deserving of respect and honor. But, the Word says that our pastors and leaders among us are worthy of a little extra measure because they have been given the duty of overseeing the equipping of the body for the work of ministry.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. – 1 Timothy 5:17
He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service.. – Ephesians 4:11-12
Why Is It Important to Pray for Your Pastor?
Prayer is how we bring God’s kingdom resources into our circumstances. Our shepherds need our prayers. They have been given a great responsibility as an overseer of the church of Christ. They need grace and strength that only God can give. They need supernatural ability in order to walk in this calling.
One of my favorite examples of this is in Pauls’s letter to the Philippians. He was writing them from prison. He asked them to be praying for him and he was confident that their prayers would turn out for his deliverance.
for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ – Philippians 1:19 NASB
Paul understood that the prayers of the people were powerful for bringing about his rescue.
Likewise, our pastors need this kind of power manifested in their own lives. Especially in today’s world which is becoming more and more hostile towards truth and godliness. Our pastors are under much pressure. They need our prayers to lead their flock according to love, truth, and righteousness.
Praying for Your Pastor Scriptures
Like many other things in life, developing new prayer habits must, sometimes, be done intentionally. Here are a few sample prayers for your pastor. You can use these examples or find some other scriptures you can use to form your own prayers for your pastor and leaders.
Praying for Fruit in Their Daily Life
Pray for your pastor to produce fruit in his daily life. These spiritual fruits are a sign of a healthy relationship with the Lord.
Lord, I pray that the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will produce in his daily life. – Galatians 5:22-23 NASB
Praying for Your Pastor and His Family
Not only is your pastor needing wisdom for how to lead your church family, but he also needs grace for leading his own household.
Lord, help him to manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity – 1 Tim 3:5
Lord, please help him to love his wife just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her – Ephesians 5:25
Praying for a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation for Your Pastor
Pray for wisdom for your pastor in all the hard decisions he faces each day. Pray that God would give him revelation in his knowledge of Himself, and also knowledge of how to live and lead according to God’s will.
I pray that you give him a Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that he may know You better. – Ephesians 1:17
Praying for His Love to Abound
The Bible says in Matthew 22:39 that loving God and loving others fulfills the law and prophets. Pray that God would cause your pastor’s love for Himself and for others to abound in ever-increasing measures.
I pray, that his love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that he may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ – Philippians 1:9
Praying for His Soul’s Refreshment and Strength
Pray for your pastor’s soul to be refreshed by the presence of God.
Lead him to green pastures and quiet waters – restore his soul; guide him in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake – Psalm 23:3
Praying for Deliverance from Temptation
Our spiritual enemy prowls around like a lion seeking someone to devour. Pray for your pastor’s strength and that the Lord gives him a wise and discerning spirit so that he is able to identify these attacks and temptations.
Lead him not into temptation, but deliver him from evil – Matthew 6:13
Praying for Power and Boldness to Preach the Word
Pray that your pastor will confidently preach God’s truth with passion and power.
Help him to proclaim Your kingdom and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. – Acts 28:31
How to Pray for Your Pastor PDF
Get this free printable copy of the scripture prayers listed above. You can print it out and keep it in your prayer journal to use as part of your prayer strategy. You can use these or find some other scriptures to form the foundation of your own prayers for your pastor. My plan is to include these scriptures in my weekly prayers and pick one day each week to pray specifically for my pastors.
Related Posts and Resources:
- Scriptures to Pray for Your Child
- Praying for Your Marriage
- 5 Powerful Ways to Pray for Your Church Family
- Free Printable Prayer Journal
- How to Make a Prayer Binder