Prayerlight

The Need of Prayers for our Spiritual leaders has never been more important than in this age.
1. The devil knows his time is short
2. The enemy has had years of experience with the Human race and knows more wiles.
3. The love of many is waxing cold.
4. Leaders are ill equipped to handle the spiritual war.
5. Grace is at an all time high in reserve for the fight.
6. Angelic forces are awaiting the reinforcements.
7. Prophecies are being fulfilled now.
8. God is willing and able.
These are a few of many reasons God needs the leaders hands held up and prayed for more than ever. I have here some information rounded up from sources that will be a help to your leaders as well as you and your family. Please pray these over them and see what God will do!!!
1. I thank You, Father, that Your eyes are on my shepherd and Your ears are attentive to my pastor’s prayers and Your face is against those who plot evil against my pastor (1 Pet. 3:12). For I know that in all things You work for the good of _____ (insert your pastor’s name) who loves You (Ro. 8:28). Who can accuse this pastor who is daily interceded for by Christ Jesus? (Ro. 8:33‐34). Therefore, in all things my pastor is more than a conqueror(Ro. 8:37). Thank You, God.
2. Lord, I pray for discernment in exposing any schemes of the enemy against my pastor. Show our congregation how to pray against all powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of darkness in heavenly realms. And, Lord, protect us as we wage warfare on behalf of our pastor (Eph. 6:11‐12).
3. Father, I thank You that no weapons formed against my pastor will prosper. Every tongue raised against my shepherd will be cast down. Rumors and gossip will be turned aside. For _____ will be still before the Lord and wait on You. My pastor will dwell in the shadow of the Most High God and will be delivered from terror,darts of doubt, and diseases (Ps. 91:5‐6). Set Your angels about my pastor (Ps. 91:11) and no power of the enemy shall harm _____(Lk. 10:19). Thank God forevermore!
4. Lord, let _____ have a discerning mind to prioritize the precious minutes in the day. Let my pastor discern what is most important and be guarded against the tyranny of the urgent(2 Cor. 11:14, 1 Jn. 4:1).
5. Father, allow my pastor to glory only in the cross (Gal. 6:14). Keep my pastor from pride and pity. Let the cross be his reason for ministry.
6. Jesus keep my pastor holy in every way (1 Pet. 1:16). Protect my shepherd from seducing spirits especially when he/she is tired and hard‐pressed. Give _____ comrades to help protect him/her, and to share with in personal holiness (Jas. 4:7). As my pastor draws near to You, draw near to my pastor (Jas. 4:8).
7. I pray that the eyes of my pastor may be enlightened to know the hope to which we are called and know the riches of our glorious inheritance in the saints. Let my pastor know the incomparable great power which is in us who believe (Eph. 1:18‐19). Let _____ see the full revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:12). Place in him/her a desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (Phil. 3:10).
8. Lord, I lift up the hands of my pastor and his/her family. Place them in the shelter of the Most High to rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, You are their refuge and fortress. You will preserve their family time. You will cover their home. Your faithfulness will meet their financial needs in Christ Jesus(Phil. 4:19). You will command Your angels to guard them as they travel and win the lost. You have said, “I will be with [them] in trouble, I will deliver [them] and honor [them]. With a long life, I will satisfy [them] and show [them] my salvation” (Ps. 91:15‐16).In Jesus’ name I cancel all assignments of the enemy against them.
9. In Jesus’ name I speak to church hurts, abuse, and ungrateful forces to move. I speak to mountains of criticism and inordinate expectations to be cast into the sea. I speak to stress, excessive phone counseling, and fatigue to be cast into the sea, and I believe every need, vision, and dream of _____’s will be completed (Mk.11:22‐24, Phil. 4:19).
10. Forgive those who hurt _____ and speak against him/her, and may my pastor walk in forgiveness (Eph. 4:32‐5:1). Guard my pastor from futile thinking (Eph. 4:17) and a vain imagination. Let every thought be taken captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:3‐5).
11. In Jesus’ name I bind the fear of failure and the fear of humankind(Jn. 14:1). Let _____’s confidence not be eroded by the daily resistance to the gospel or his/her vision. Allow my pastor to fear God more than people.
12. Father, heal my shepherd’s heart of any grief caused by ministry. Bestow on my pastor a crown of beauty instead of ashes and anoint him/her with the oil of gladness instead of mourning. Clothe my shepherd with a garment of praise instead of a spirit of depression. I call my pastor an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord to display Your splendor (Is. 61:3).
13. Keep my pastor in the midst of good and exciting worship. Keep my pastor from the traditions of men and religion which hold the form of godliness, but deny its power (2 Tim. 3:5). Give _____ a vision of heaven (Isaiah 6, Revelation 4).
14. With my shield of faith I cover my shepherd’s mind to quench all flaming darts of doubt or vain imagination or mental distractions(Eph. 6:16, Col. 2:6‐8). Let the mind of Christ be strong in my pastor (1 Cor. 2:16).
15. Lord, I stand against the enemies of my pastor’s prayer life: “busyness”(Acts 6:24), compulsions, compromise (Acts 5), unnecessary phone calls, chronic counselees, fatigue, sleepiness (Mt.26:41), appetites, television, late meetings, over‐commitments, and doubt. Let nothing hinder _____’s time with You. Let my pastor rise up to seek You (Mk. 1:35), pray with other pastors (Acts 1:14),and pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17). Give my pastor the time, the desire, and the place to pray (Acts 16:16). I rebuke in the name of Jesus any distractions from my pastor’s devotional life.
16. Bless my pastor with rich study time (Acts 6:4, 2 Tim. 2:15).
17. As _____ preaches, let him/her proclaim Jesus Christ (Col. 1:28).Let my pastor’s preaching be in the energy of the Holy Spirit.
18. Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, anoint _____ to preach, and bring apostolic results (Acts 2:37). As my pastor speaks the Word, let signs and wonders follow confirming it (Mk. 16:20). Let the sick be healed; let the oppressed be set free. Anoint _____ with the truth(Mt. 16:17). Let people be cut to the heart and accept Jesus Christ.
19. Lord, as You have promised, grant my beloved shepherd lasting fruit (Mal. 3:11, Jn. 15:16). Let my pastor’s converts become disciples who in turn disciple. Bless my pastor with disciples who grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
20. Lord, keep my pastor in the fear of God. Let my pastor not fear people (Prov. 19:23). Give _____ boldness to confront sin and church controllers. Honor my pastor’s stand for You. Come to my pastor’s rescue. I claim Psalm 35 for my shepherd.
1. Ask God to give us an inclination to his Word and not to money or fame or power (Psalm 119:36), and to open our eyes to see wonderful things when we read his Word (Psalm 119:18), and to have hearts united in the fear of God rather than fragmented over a dozen concerns (Psalm 86:11), and to be satisfied in his steadfast love (Psalm 90:14). (This is the IOUS acronym I use almost every day in praying for those I love.)
2. Pray for our purity and that we not come into temptation. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). It is so crucial that our minds, not just our bodies, be pure. Defiled minds dull spiritual sight and make a pastor weak and, in the end, useless.
3. Pray for our biblical, doctrinal faithfulness. An elder “must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). “Keep a close watch on . . . the teaching” (1 Timothy 4:16). Pray that a hundred years from now the leaders of Bethlehem will believe and love and teach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
4. Pray for solid, joyful, Christ-exalting marriages where dad leads in daily family devotions and where dad leads his wife in times of prayer with just the two of them. “Fathers . . . bring [your children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way. . . so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).
5. Pray for our boldness in witnessing to the truth and beauty and necessity of Christ as the only way to escape the wrath of God and enjoy the pleasure of God’s presence. “When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:9–10).
6. Pray for visionary, creative energy. Some of us are older and have been around a long time. Pray that we not get lazy. Pray that age brings wisdom and strength and zeal. Pray against any couch potatoes on the staff. Pray that we dream and create and press for more and more impact on this world for Christ. “Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess’” (Joshua 13:1). Yes! No time for coasting, or retiring, or playing. Pray that we dream and work hard till we drop.
7. Pray for converting power. We do not want to counsel and pray and lead and plan and teach and preach powerlessly and without eternal effect. Pray that what happened with Paul and Lydia will happen in our ministries. “On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:13–14). Ask the Lord to open hearts and save people through our ministry.
8. Pray that we would be a small part of a great, global awakening of fully biblical, doctrinally complete, Christ-exalting, God centered reformation in the church and awakening in the world. “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven’” (Matthew 6:9–10). Don’t pray prayers that are too small.
“Allow me to give some suggestions of things I pray for pastors and leaders:
I pray that they would love Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and that their ministry would never steal from them their first love, Jesus Christ.
I pray that they would love and serve their wife and family with glad hearts and that their family would have love for the ministry instead of resenting it for “stealing” their husband and daddy away.
I pray for a passion; for conviction and dedication to their calling and to Jesus Christ.
I pray that they will walk in confidence while kneeling in humility as gentle shepherds who care for their sheep.
I pray for encouragement in their faith and ministry, and against those who attack, slander, harm, or speak evil against them.
I pray that their teaching and preaching will be accurate, true, bold, convicting, encouraging, anointed,
and Christ-centered.
I pray that God will guard them from burnout and depression.
I pray that they will never fall prey to envy, jealousy, insecurity, or comparison.
I pray for their holiness and purity, and against lust, affairs, love of money, and pride.
I pray for rest spiritually and physically, and that they know that it is not their ministry they are leading, but God’s.
I pray that they will finish better than they started.
I pray that they will take time to have fun, do things they enjoy, spend time with their wives and play with the kids, and get away often to find peace and solitude.
I pray for God to raise up people around them to assist them, serve them, honor them, encourage them, pray for them, admonish them, and protect them.
I pray that ministry, teaching, preaching, and leading will never become a chore for them, but that it would always be a joy and blessing to serve the Lord and His people with kindness and gladness, and that they would enjoy every aspect of leading, whether easy or hard, for the glory of God. I pray these things for pastors or leaders. I hope all of us will pray them for one another.”
1. That the gospel would be the focal point of my life and identity – not manhood, not being a husband, not being a father, not being a pastor, but who I am in Christ.
2. That I would not fear man by desiring the admiration of people; that the Lord’s “Well done” would be ever before my eyes.
3. That the Lord would not allow me to go long between repentances; that I would keep short accounts with Him and be sensitive to and ruthless with my sin.
4. That I would continue to grow in the character qualities of a man of God (1 Tim. 3:1-7 (http://biblia.com/bible/1%20Tim%203.1-7); 2 Tim. 2:22-26 (http://biblia.com/bible/2%20Tim%202.22-26); Titus 1:5-9 (http://biblia.com/bible/Titus%201.5-9)).
5. That I would have a consistent, powerful, diligent life of private prayer; that I would grow in my dependence on the Holy Spirit.
6. That the Lord would give me great diligence in study and sermon preparation, making the most of my time.
7. That my preaching and teaching ministry would be empowered by the Holy Spirit; that the Lord would effect real change in our lives through it; and that by it we would be more endeared to Christ.
8. That I would boldly and faithfully and humbly and joyfully and intentionally share the gospel with the non-Christians in my social orbit.
9. That I would see Jesus as supremely valuable, my greatest treasure, and as my dear friend.
How to Pray for Leadership

The most underutilized source of spiritual power in our churches today is the intercession for Christian leaders.
In his book, “The Prayer Shield”, C. Peter Wagner states that, “The most underutilized source of spiritual power in our churches today is the intercession for Christian leaders.” He further states, “No question exists in the minds of those who have experienced it; committed, faithful intercession brings increased spiritual power to Christian ministries.”
John Wesley is frequently quoted as saying, “God will do nothing on earth except in answer to believing prayer.” You and I help to determine what happens to our leadership—blessing or cursing—whether God’s goodness is released in their ministries or whether the power of sin and Satan is permitted to influence them!
The apostle Paul knew the importance of praying for leaders. He requested prayer five different times in his epistles.
“Brethren, pray for us” (I Thessalonians 5:25, NKJV). Paul told the Thessalonians that he was praying for them and affirming their gifts of faith, hope, and love (I Thessalonians 1:2-3). At the end he asked them to pray for him, probably expecting them to pray for his faith, hope, and love to be increased.
“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Romans 15:30, NKJV). This is a more specific request for personal intercession. He asked them to pray that his trip to Jerusalem would be successful and that he would be protected from enemies waiting for him there.
“You also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many” (II Corinthians 1:11, NKJV). In the preceding verse of Scripture Paul spoke of being delivered from death. As Paul asked the Corinthian believers for prayer, he knew intercession could be a matter of life and death.
“For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:19, NKJV). Paul depended on the prayers of others for justice to be done and for him to be released from prison.
“I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you” (Philemon 22, NKJV). This reference could easily be overlooked, but Paul again wrote from prison and wanted to visit his friend Philemon. He had faith that God would answer Philemon’s prayers to that effect.
Prayer for leadership is not an option, but rather a necessity!
Christian leaders need a greater concentration of prayer and intercession because:
*They have more responsibility and accountability.
*They are more subjected to temptation.
*They are more targeted in spiritual warfare.
*They have more visibility and are subject to gossip and criticism.
Prayer and intercession for leadership are important to release God’s plan for the church to reach its potential. Praying for leadership will cause a positive change in their effectiveness and in the effectiveness of their ministries.
A 1990 survey says, “There exists a tremendous reservoir of untapped prayer power in every church which can be affirmed, trained, and deployed to see the lost won, the apathetic revived, the backslider restored, and the committed made more effective.”
Our leaders are chosen by God to move His kingdom forward. Faithful, specific prayer and intercession will release them to be all God wants them to be. To the degree the intercessors pray, the leaders gain protection against the fiery darts of the wicked one, over and above the whole armor of God they are responsible for using. Prayer is one of the most important elements of a successful ministry today!
Seven Ways to Pray for Our Leadership
In her book “The Mighty Warrior”, Beth Alves, president of Intercessors International suggests seven ways to pray for our leadership:
Day 1–Favor with God
*Pray for leaders to walk in the Spirit, pleasing to the Lord.
*Pray for the Holy Spirit to give personal direction, teaching, vision.
*Pray for ever-increasing knowledge of God.
*Pray for leaders’ work to be the best.
*Pray for leaders to have strength to withstand fiery tests. *Pray for leaders to be sensitive to God’s voice, to have spiritual ears and hearts.
*Pray for leaders to speak the Word with boldness wherever they go.
Day 2–Favor with Man
*Pray that people will be sensitive to financial needs of spiritual leaders and support them.
*Pray that there will be no gossip, deceit, or unbelief.
*Pray that God will send His ministering angels to guard the leaders. *Pray that all leaders will be in unity and attuned to the Holy Spirit for direction, that they will be supportive of one another. *Pray for God to give leaders a spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, strength, and obedient and reverent fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). *Pray that the leaders will witness effectively and boldly to the lost. *Pray for God to prepare the hearts of those with whom the leaders share the gospel.
Day 3–Pure Vision
*Pray for God to clarify His vision for ministry to the leaders.
*Pray for helpers in carrying out the vision.
*Pray for keen discernment between God’s wisdom and human wisdom. *Pray for pure motives, purged by God through the Word and their personal prayer time.
*Pray for discernment against impure motives.
*Pray for God to lead and direct their paths.
Day 4–Spirit, Soul, and Body
*Pray for divine health—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. *Pray for all effects of tiredness and discouragement to be loosed from the leaders’ minds and bodies.
*Pray for fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
*Pray for total submission to the Lord in every aspect of life. *Pray for a spirit of unity, not competition; humility, not superiority; cooperation, not defensiveness.
*Pray for leaders to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. *Pray for leaders to feed daily on the Word of God and maintain a faithful prayer life.
Day 5–Warfare and Protection
*Pray that God would send angels to guard our leaders, their families, and property, to put a hedge of protection around all that is going in, coming out, the air above, and the ground below.
*Pray that the angels would go before them and do battle in their behalf.
*Pray that God foils all attacks and traps of the enemy.
*Pray against all occult activity—curses, witchcraft divination, sorcery.
Day 6–Priorities
*Pray that the Lord will cause the leaders to abound in prosperity—body, soul, and spirit.
*Thank God for providing all the needs—personal, family, ministry.
*Pray for leaders to learn to be wise stewards of time, to become disciplined.
*Pray for leaders’ relationship with God to always remain the top priority.
Day 7–Family
*Pray for unity and understanding among the family members.
*Pray that there would be no resentment when sacrifice is required.
*Pray for God to meet the emotional needs
*Pray that leaders will spend quality time with their families—both leisure time and spiritual time.
*Pray for the family to discern each other’s needs—emotional, physical, material, and spiritual.
*Pray for them to overcome pressures and stress. *Pray that the children will be free from expectations put on them that are not in line with God’s will.
Produced by World Network of Prayer, United Pentecostal Church International.