BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

Maybe it is because my son has recently become an official minister or maybe it is because of the Bible Study I have been going to (BSF) or maybe it is a combination of things or things I have no idea about; but God has been convicting me about praying for our ministers, not just pastors but all church staff.  Yes, I prayed for them, but sometimes it was a flippant, half-hearted, hurried kind of prayer.  Such as, "Dear God,  Bless Brother Blake today."  Or something equally benign.  My heart has been convicted that I need to do a better job of praying for my son, as a minister, but not only him.  I need to pray better and more for my pastor, youth minister, music minister, etc. 

Ministers have one of the hardest jobs I know of.  They have to live in a fishbowl.  Their every move is examined, evaluated, even criticized.  Church members are a needy bunch.  Pastors have the job of leading  people who refuse to follow, comfort them when they are hurting, and preach God's word to them when they don't want to listen.  Are all church members like that, no.  Are church members like that all the time, no.  I know they are not, but sometimes, a lot of times, they are.  The enemy is constantly looking for a way to keep your pastor from doing the work God has for him to do.  He wants to keep him from being effective.  He wants to keep him from being morally pure.  He wants to keep him from spending time in the word, from striving to become holy and more Christ like.  He wants to keep him distracted.  Most of all he wants to keep your pastor and mine from preaching the gospel.

But I know God is sovereign!  God is in control.  He hears our cries.  He answers our prayers.  So, I ask you...

Have you prayed for your pastor today?(Or other minister... such as Youth Pastor, etc) Have you prayed for God to protect him from the evil one? Prayed that he will be strong so he can carry the church God has entrusted him to lead? Prayed that he will be healthy, so he can minister to those who are not? Prayed that he will be bold to preach the gospel? Prayed that he will be compassionate to hold the hands of hurting members of the body? Prayed that he will be wise when giving counsel and advice? Prayed that he will grow closer to God and more righteous in his walk? Prayed that he will be submissive to the will of God and under God's authority at all times?  Have you prayed for your attitude to be sensitive and submissive to his leadership? Prayed that God will use him to speed the spread of the gospel until there is no place left, before it is too late? Take the time right now to pray for him.  You still have time!