There is NOTHING more important to our effectiveness as a pastor than our personal prayer life. Unfortunately, it is the one area that all of us testify is not where it ought to be. We continually express regrets about our prayer lives. Well, we know where we are. We know we need to do better. Again, I just remind you – there is nothing more important to your effectiveness as a pastor. Therefore, determine anew to “be still,” come into His presence, and spend more time with the Living Lord and LISTEN so that you might here His voice.
In Acts 6, we see the Lord gifting the early church with the deacon ministry. Perhaps we need to re-read the full account. Deacons came on the scene so that the Apostles could DEVOTE themselves continually to “prayer and the ministry of the Word.” (Acts 6: 4) Prayer and the ministry of the Word are inseparable.
O. S. Hawkins writes, “We have no right to speak to men about God unless, first we have spoken to God about men,” There is no direction without prayer. In fact, I believe the teachings of Acts tell us that a prayerless church is a power-less church. Throughout the Bible we see the POWER of prayer and the importance of being in the presence of the Living Lord in order to accomplish the task before us.
The pastor’s prayer life has three dimensions – public, personal, and private. A pastor’s public prayers should be personal and pertinent. The pastor should not pray in such a way that he appears pious or pompous. Public prayers are directed to the Lord, not to the congregation.
Every pastor needs the confidence and the support of a small group of “prayer partners” – people he can confide to and with whom he can pray. Personally seek out a small group of people to serve as your prayer partners.
The pastor’s personal prayer life is key! O.S. Hawkins writes, it “is the secret of his life and ministry.” If He who never sinned needed time alone with God in prayer, certainly those of us called to the Gospel Ministry MUST devote time to be alone with God and seek His Face!
Some practical things to do to improve your prayer life:
1. Determine to specific time and place to be alone with God in prayer.
2. Start by confessing sin – Ps. 66: 18 tells us “If I regard iniquity in m heart the Lord will not hear.”
3. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving – there is so much for us to be thankful of every day of our lives. It does us well to lift up personal gratitude for the gifts of God upon our lives.
4. Pray a prayer of praise – we need to “minister to the Lord” – tell God you love Him; praise Him for at least one of His attributes (goodness, mercy, patience, holiness, etc.); thank God for what He does; praise Him for who He is; sing and/or meditate upon hymns that praise the Lord.
5. Pray prayers of intercession - pray specifically for 5 families in the church every day, intercede on behalf of others – family, friends, co-workers, political leaders, missionaries, the sick, and never forget the LOST.
6. Pray the prayer of intercession – in your private prayer time, ask God for anything and everything He has placed upon your heart.
7. Pray the prayer of communion – a prayer that goes beyond mere words. With your Bible open, LISTEN for that “still, small voice.” As the scripture declares – BE STILL and LISTEN. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and follow me.” DO NOT RUSH THROUGH, LISTEN FOR HIS VOICE.
Pastor – prayer is our battlefield! Do not allow the busy-ness of life or the weariness of well doing to provide an excuse to neglect your prayer life. To do so will mean that your ministry will be less effective can be.
Additional Scriptures Upon Which To Read and Meditate:
Exodus 34: 29 – end
Isaiah 59: 1 – 2
Matthew 6: 5 – 15
Acts 6: 1 – 7
Ephesians 6
1 John 1
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