Help me welcome our guest author today, Dennis O Shepherd, as he shares about how we can encourage our pastors this month.

         October is “Pastor Appreciation Month.” I believe the best way to show a pastor your appreciation is to pray specifically for your pastor every day. Pastors are set apart to guide the congregation to a closer walk with God. Preaching, teaching, counseling, praying, and visiting are some ways that the pastor guides the congregation to a closer walk with God.

         Most pastors are “on call” every hour because their lives consist of much more than preparing for Sunday worship. A phone call in the wee hours of the night for emergency hospital visits; someone in dire straits who needs to talk to their pastor about deep issues may happen at any given moment; births and deaths are no respecter of time. Pastors are ones who make themselves available, regardless. 

         Events, issues, and routine demands place a great deal of pressure and stress on a pastor. There are few that a pastor can go to for sharing and unloading what stresses their own hearts and minds. The friendships pastors develop with members of their congregations are meaningful, but boundaries remain.

         The best way to show someone you love them is to pray for and pray with that person. Praying for your pastor, not only throughout Pastor Appreciation Month, but on a regular basis is a privileged ministry a person may undertake.

         Ask your pastor for specific topics where your prayer support is needed. Include members of your pastor’s family in your prayer time; families often give up personal time because the pastor is called away. Obviously, pray for sermon and Bible study preparation, but also for wisdom and understanding in all events your pastor faces. Prepare a list of general topics and issues that everybody deals with; your pastor is human and deals with similar issues.

         There are occasions when your pastor may pop in your mind. Say a “breath prayer” then; just a few words of asking God to bless your pastor at that moment. The Lord will use your breath prayer to intervene and give insight into a situation your pastor faces right then.

         Uplift your pastor as part of your daily devotional time. This becomes a meaningful part of your quiet time, not a mere habit. The more you pray for your pastor, the more blessings you both experience.

About Prayers to Pray for Your Pastor

You can use Prayers to Pray for Your Pastor as a stand-alone book or part of the prayer along with your quiet time. This is a collection of prayers that cover specific topics that most pastors deal with; many are based on a Scripture passage. This book will support your pastor and encourage you as you use it as a guide to develop a deeper prayer life. Check out my other titles on amazon.com.

https://www.amazon.com/Prayers-Pray-Your-Pastor/dp/B0BW32R6GJ

About Dennis:

Dennis O Shepherd was stationed in Germany and served as a Chaplain Assistant in the U.S. Army. He traveled to several States and to Haiti and Guatemala as an Independent Missions Worker. Music, writing, and hiking are a few of his hobbies. Originally from Shepherdsville, KY, Dennis now resides in Southeastern Indiana.

 www.facebook.com/authordennisoshepherd