A Prayer For My Pastor

A pastor is God’s anointed servant, assigned to watch over, feed, tend to, and care for the flocks of Jesus Christ. They are responsible for providing the Church with spiritual leadership and feeding its members spiritual food through preachings and teachings to equip them for Kingdom works and edification of God’s people (see Ephesians 4:11-12).

Saying a prayer for your pastor, whether they know it or not, is such a great blessing. It is something that they will truly appreciate from those under their care, their family, a friend, or an acquaintance. After all, being a pastor is no easy job since, as one of the front liners in the Kingdom of God, they are the ones who are first to be attacked by the enemy. The Apostle Paul said, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11-12). That is why your prayers are highly needed and much appreciated by your pastor.

As you are here looking for a prayer for your pastor, know that you are such a great blessing to the Body of Christ. Here is a prayer:

Heavenly Father, I lift my pastor unto You and thank You for leading him into my life. He has been a great blessing, not just to me but to many others who are lost, broken, and in need of saving through Christ. May Your favor, blessing, and honor always be upon him and his family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A pastor is one of God’s gifts to the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” 

Much as biological parents do for their children, pastors play an important role—by nurturing you as a baby Christian and continuously guiding you to a time you are fully grown and mature enough to follow your own calling and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

And they don’t stop doing what they are called to do, which is to always be there for you whenever you need them. They are not doing it for money or for any other reason but solely for their love, obedience, and passion for Christ Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

Continuously pray for your pastor; love them, bless them, and value them because they are doing their very best work for your sake in Christ Jesus.

What can I pray for my pastor?

Saying a daily prayer for your pastor helps them in fulfilling their faith walk and calling in the Lord. Your prayers are vital, just as a pastor’s prayer is vital to the body of Christ. There are many things that you can pray for your pastor as you partner with the Holy Spirit in prayer. Here are some of those things:

1. Pray for his health and overall well-being.

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

A healthy body, soul, heart, and mind are very important for all pastors to have because their health and wellness impact not only themselves and their loved ones but those under their leadership as well. When your pastor is not in perfect shape in any of these aspects, the enemy can use such weakness as opportunities to hurt the Church, hinder growth, and lead others astray, even unintentionally. So keep praying for your pastor’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. You can pray and declare 3 John 1:2 for your pastor’s health and wellness:

Heavenly Father, I thank You because it is Your perfect will for my pastor to prosper in his soul and health overall. Thank You for blessing him with divine strength to carry out Your will, protecting his emotional and mental state with Your Word, and giving him a spirit of love, power, and sound mind in Jesus’ name. Amen.

2. Pray for his family.

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Psalm 91:10-11

There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.

When the enemy can’t attack your pastor or his ministry, he aims at the weakness of their family. It is important to cover your pastor’s family in prayers and always bless them as well. Pray and declare Numbers 6:24-26 and Psalm 91:10-11 for your pastor’s family:

Heavenly Father, thank You, for no evil shall come near my pastor’s home as You send your angels to watch over his family to keep them in all their ways. Thank You for blessing them, keeping them, and making Your face shine upon them always in Jesus’ name. Amen.

3. Pray for his finances.

Proverbs 19:17

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Most pastors with small churches are not supported financially by the government or their sect. As some of these pastors are working full-time to focus on the ministry, they rely on the help of their family members as well as the church members. A few pastors may be working in secular jobs to be able to provide for their families. Whatever the case for your pastor, always include his finances in your prayer. After all, we know how necessary money is for us to be able to not just survive in life but to be able to bless others as well. And your pastor may be sacrificing even his personal savings for the sake of the Church. You can pray and declare Proverbs 19:17 to your pastor’s finances:

Lord, thank You for blessing my pastor financially. You promised that as he lends to the poor, he is doing it for You and that You will pay him with great reward. Thank You for my pastor’s services and sacrifices to the Church; may You increase his financial blessings in Jesus’ name. Amen.

4. Pray for his protection against the works of the enemy.

John 17:15

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

As mentioned earlier, being a pastor is not an easy road because, since they are a front liner in God’s Kingdom, the enemy will want them out of the race to stop the movement and advancement of God’s kingdom. When soldiers go to war, and their leader gets shot first, it brings such great discouragement that it can bring defeat to the whole troop. That’s what the enemy wants for your pastor. You may pray and declare John 17:15 and Matthew 6:13, the prayer of Jesus Christ: 

Heavenly Father, thank You for keeping my pastor from the enemy and its works. You always deliver him from harm and all sorts of temptations because Yours is the kingdom, power, and glory forever. My pastor is always victorious through Christ in Jesus’ name. Amen.

5. Pray for godly wisdom.

James 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Wisdom is so important when you are leading people to Christ – feeding them with spiritual food and dealing with different people and daily decision-making – not just for the ministry but for your own family as well. Pray for your pastor to have godly wisdom at all times as you pray James 3:17 upon his life:

Heavenly Father, thank You for always giving my pastor wisdom from above. His wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, and without partiality and hypocrisy. Thank You for always guiding him in all his dealings and affairs in life in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

6. Pray for discernment.

1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Pray for your pastor’s discernment for God’s will at all times since he or she is dealing with many people with different issues, motives and intents, burdens, and so on. 1 John 4:1 says we must test every spirit to see if it’s a spirit from God. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for continuously increasing my pastor’s discernment. You speak and reveal to him people’s motives and issues of the heart so that he may effectively edify the Church and protect the ministry that You have given him, and he is able to test every spirit with clarity and peace in Jesus’ name. Amen.

7. Pray for sensitivity and clarity in hearing God’s voice.

John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Hearing God’s voice is a promise to those who truly follow Jesus Christ as He mentioned in John 10:27. Being a pastor who carries people’s burdens and life’s issues, combined with his personal struggles and the ministry, can sometimes cloud one’s mind against hearing God’s voice clearly and knowing His perfect will. 

Lord, thank You, for my pastor always hears Your voice because he is your sheep. You know him, and he knows You and follows You. Thank You for giving him even more clarity to hear Your voice, regardless of his circumstances in life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

8. Pray for his ministry and God-given calling in life.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Nothing can make a pastor happier than when his biological and spiritual family are prospering in their relationship with God and able to fulfill God’s perfect will for their lives. Working in the ministry and advancing the Kingdom is not easy and may sometimes even cause stress, heartache, disappointment, and burnout, especially when their flocks are not maturing in their walk with God, are being stubborn in their ways, and are rebelling against their pastors. But Galatians 6:9 promises a great harvest if you don’t give up on doing good and continuing in your calling in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says that all labors in the Lord will not be in vain. So, pray that your pastor will be immovable and remain persistent in his calling until the day Christ Jesus returns.

Heavenly Father, thank You for always strengthening and encouraging my pastor to do Your will. As he perseveres in the ministry and his calling, thank You. For he will reap a great harvest in due time, and his labors in the Kingdom of God are not in vain in the Lord. I speak blessing and breakthrough upon my pastor’s ministry and in his calling in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The list is endless as you partner with the Holy Spirit in praying for your pastor. When you partner with the Holy Spirit, He will show you even more specific things that you can pray and intercede for your pastor. When you pray according to the Spirit for your pastor, you are praying for God’s perfect will for their lives. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

How can I be a blessing to my pastors?

Besides saying a prayer for your pastors, which is a great blessing to their lives, there are other ways of becoming a blessing to them:

1. Help your pastors financially when you are able, and be faithful in your tithes and giving in the Church.

Finances play an important role in your pastor’s life and his ministry. When you bless your pastor financially and stay faithful in your giving of tithes and offering to the Church, you don’t bless only the Church and the man of God, but you show God you can be trusted as a channel of His blessings. Luke 16:10 says, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

2. Treat your pastors to a wonderful restaurant or surprise them with a gift from time to time.

We know how pastors think very little of themselves as they are too busy taking care of other people. Sometimes, they may even forget that God created them as His children as well. If God touches your heart, treat your well-deserved pastor to a good restaurant, or you may buy him a wonderful gift that he can enjoy for himself. Hebrews 13:16 (NKJV) says, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

3. Serve in the ministry.

Nothing can truly bless a pastor’s heart more than when you volunteer to serve in the ministry. The desire to serve God’s people and advance His kingdom is a sign that you are growing in your faith and relationship with God. If you want to bless your pastor, serve in the ministry when you are ready and when God calls you to. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says we are to serve one another for His glory with whatever spiritual gifts and natural talents God has given us. 

4. Express your gratitude verbally to your pastors.

It is important to express your gratitude to your pastors verbally as this will truly encourage them, bless them, and empower them in their calling. You can thank them for their unconditional love and sacrifices for God’s people, for having a selfless nature, for leading the Church, etc. Whatever the Holy Spirit puts in your heart, thank them for it. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

5. Bless and honor your pastor’s family as well.

Blessing your pastor’s family, whether through hospitality, gifts, prayers, or words of encouragement, will also bless and impact your pastor powerfully. After all, your pastor’s family is precious and important to him. As you honor and value your pastor, do likewise to the members of his household. Romans 12:10 says, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”

6. Share an encouraging word with your pastor.

One of our pastors’ roles is to encourage the Church through their preaching, teaching, and by the example of their faith in Christ and Christian living. That being said, pastors do need encouragement from others as well. After all, they are like everyone else; they can experience discouragements, heartaches, and disappointments from time to time. And saying encouraging words to your pastor as you ask the Holy Spirit for words of knowledge, wisdom, and prophecy for your pastor will surely bless them and empower them. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

7. Be a faithful follower and lover of God.

When pastors see their Church members faithfully serving and loving God and His people, it is their reward for their hard labors in the ministry and Kingdom of God. So, continue to be God’s faithful follower and a passionate lover of Christ Jesus. Shine the light of Christ as you serve in the ministry and bless people wherever you go with the presence of God. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

May God bless you as you continuously pray for your pastor and desire to be a blessing to him. May God be glorified through your life in Jesus’ name.