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How-to become a praying pastor
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Most every pastor feels the need to pray more. As shepherds and keepers of the Word, we recognize the need for communicating our needs to God, drawing near to Him through prayer and praising Him for His work in our lives.
As Paul's frustration as recorded in Romans 8, however shows us, the problem is often in the doing, not in the desire. Here are some simple ways you can begin to pray more diligently and fervently for the needs of your church and community.
1. Ask for God's wisdom, intervention, and forgiveness, if needed, in helping you to develop a more effective prayer life. Psalm 127:1 tells us that "unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it." We need God's direction and unction to become truly effective in prayer as in anything else we do.
2. Pray that God will help you to deepen your relationship with Him which will, in turn, deepen your prayer life. Spend more time reading the Word. Ask for a renewed interest in prayer and a renewed heart for intercession.
3. Realize the urgent need of prayer. While it's important for all Christians to pray, it's critical that pastors and ministers pray - for themselves, for each other, for their people and the community. There may be times when pastors are the only ones praying. Heaven forbid we should neglect such an important responsibility!
4. Listen as well as talk to the Lord. Learn to discern the voice of God. Take time to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say. Prayer is a two-way communication, not simply a monologue. Spend time in quiet waiting and the Spirit will speak to your heart to guide you and direct you as you pray.
5. Ask other pray-ers to pray for you. Let them know your desire to become a praying pastor and ask for their support. Then share your praises with them as God begins to move you to pray more frequently and more fervently.
6. Set aside a specific time for prayer. Time management is one of the greatest challenges a busy pastor faces. And time for prayer, just as time for sermon preparation, visitation, church administration and all the other duties of a pastor, must be planned. Mornings make for wonderful times with the Lord, but if you don't have time in the morning, make time in the afternoon or evening. Whatever schedule works for you is okay. But set an appointment with the Lord, and keep it!
There is no magic pill that will make you a praying pastor. But with dedication and commitment to the task, one day you'll wake up to find you have become that very thing. Praise the Lord when the time arrives and enjoy the blessings of a deeper communion with Him.
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