Buying gifts for your pastor is hard. Pastors don’t need more knickknacks or books. If you’ve given your pastor these in the past, I’m sure they love them because they love you. You can give them cash or gift cards because cash and gift cards always help, but prayer is a great, free pastor appreciation gift.
Hold on. Don’t zone out and stop reading. Here’s why!
1) Prayer is a gift. Prayer changes things. God hears our prayers, and He answers them. In Colossians 4:2-4, Paul asks the regular Christians in one of his churches to pray for him. You’d think Paul would be doing the praying and not asking for prayer. Pray like it’s free, because it is.
2) All prayers matter. Paul, an Apostle, was good at praying; he saw people healed and the dead rise up. Why would he need “regular-people-prayers?” Paul knew that prayer works because the One hearing the prayer is awesome, mighty, powerful and anyone can reach him through faith in Jesus. Pray like God hears you, because he does.
3) Prayers open doors. Paul, a man sent by the Spirit, asked for doors to open. Many people might forget to ask for prayer if they were sent out the Holy Spirit, but not Paul. He wanted more opportunities to share the gospel. Paul was a gospel sharing machine, but he wanted more. He knew their prayers would enable him to be more effective. Pray like things will change, because they will.
4) Prayers empower. Paul wrote much of the New Testament, started numerous churches and led thousands to Christ. Still, he wanted more, and he knew their prayers empowered his gospel presentation. Paul craved that God’s Spirit would work through him and for that, he needed prayer. Pray your pastors messages change lives, because they can.
Remember prayers matter.
- Don’t think your pastor doesn’t need prayer. If Paul needed prayer, your pastor needs it more.
- Don’t think your prayers aren’t special. If Paul asked regular people for prayer, than regular-people-prayers work.
- Pray for your pastor often. Pray doors open, pray the message is clear and pray he’d be empowered.
- Prayers are free, but not cheap. Our prayers work because of Christ’s work on the cross. Pray boldly in Jesus’ name.
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” – Colossians 4:2–4. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001)
Commit yourself to praying every day for pastor for a year and write him a note to let him know your plans. We’re certain he will appreciate it.
