Praying for others
How to pray for your pastor and his family, with verses to pray each week
· 3 min read
How to pray for your pastor, what to pray before he preaches, how to pray for his family, Bible verses to pray, and a simple weekly plan you can keep.
To pray for your pastor, pray for his walk with Christ, his preaching, his protection, his family and his rest. Pray by name, pray regularly, and use the prayers Paul asked churches to pray for him. Pastors carry a lot that the church never sees, and steady prayer from a few people makes a real difference.
Why pray for your pastor?
Scripture asks the church to pray for its leaders. Paul, a pastor and missionary, asked again and again: “Brothers, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25, ESV). Hebrews says church leaders “are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account” (Hebrews 13:17, ESV), and then asks, “Pray for us” (Hebrews 13:18, ESV).
Your pastor preaches, counsels, visits the sick, buries the dead, and carries the church’s needs. He is also a person who gets tired and tempted like anyone else.
What to pray for your pastor
Use these as a guide, praying one or two each time:
- His walk with Jesus. That he would know Christ, not just teach about Him, and pray and read Scripture for his own soul.
- His preaching. That he would preach the Word clearly and boldly. Paul asked for prayer “that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19, ESV).
- Open doors. “Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word” (Colossians 4:3, ESV).
- Protection. From temptation, pride, discouragement and division in the church.
- Wisdom. In decisions, counseling and leading others. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5, ESV).
- Rest. For a Sabbath he actually keeps, sleep, and friends who care for him.
- Fruit. That God’s Word would “speed ahead and be honored” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, ESV) in your church and city.
How to pray for your pastor before he preaches
Pray for your pastor on Saturday night or Sunday morning, and again as he stands up to preach. A simple prayer:
“Father, thank You for our pastor. As he preaches today, give him clarity, courage and joy. Speak through Your Word, not through his strength. Open our hearts to hear it and obey it. Protect him from distraction and discouragement afterward. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
You can also pray for the people who will hear him: visitors, people who are hurting, and people who don’t yet know Jesus.
How to pray for your pastor’s family
A pastor’s family lives with the pressures of ministry too. Pray for his wife and children by name if you know them:
- That their home would be a place of rest, not just a second office.
- That his children would love Jesus, not just know church.
- That his marriage would be strong and honest.
- That the family would have friends, privacy and time together.
A weekly plan for praying for your pastor
You don’t need to pray everything every day. A simple weekly rhythm:
- Monday: rest after Sunday, and encouragement.
- Wednesday: his own walk with Jesus, and wisdom for the week.
- Friday: his family.
- Saturday: Sunday’s sermon and the people who will hear it.
For praying for the whole church, see how to pray for your church and this prayer list for church.
Keep praying for your pastor in The Pray App
A prayer card makes sure your pastor comes up on the right day. On Home, tap New prayer card, write a prayer for your pastor, and add him under Praying for from your contacts. Under Repeat, choose Weekly and pick Saturday so you pray before he preaches.
Set your pastor’s card to come up every Saturday.
When you finish praying, the summary lists who you prayed for. Tap the message button by his name to send a short text saying you prayed for him. See choose how often a prayer comes up and create a prayer card.
The Pray App is free on the App Store, with no ads. See also how to pray for others.
Questions people ask
What should I pray for my pastor?
Pray that he knows Christ deeply, preaches God's Word clearly and boldly, is protected from temptation and discouragement, has a healthy home, and gets rest. Paul asked churches to pray that God would open "a door for the word" (Colossians 4:3, ESV).
How do I pray for my pastor before he preaches?
Pray that he'll speak God's Word faithfully and clearly, that the Holy Spirit will work through it, and that the people listening will have open hearts. A short prayer on Saturday night or Sunday morning is enough.
How often should I pray for my pastor?
Once a week is a good place to start, for example on Saturday before he preaches. Add a short prayer whenever you know he's carrying something hard.
Should I tell my pastor I'm praying for him?
Yes, it encourages most pastors to know someone is praying. Ask him what to pray for, and send a short note now and then.
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