I recently read an entry from Perry Noble’s blog who pastors a large church in South Carolina. It isn’t often that I read a blog entry and go, “I wish every person in my church could read this,” but this one was one of those. So I thought, why not post it on my blog for all of my church to read as well? Perry encourages his readers to pray for their pastor and says that there are three times when your pastor needs your prayers the most. Here is what Perry wrote about these three times (remember, they are his words, not mine):
#1 - Sunday Night/Monday Morning: If a pastor ever feels like giving up–it’s either on Sunday night or Monday morning. I would say that 99% of the world’s population doesn’t really have a clue as to what pastors endure emotionally, physically and spiritually. If they are going to be under a heavy spiritual attack…it’s usually during this time. If they are going to have a sleepless night, even though they are exhausted–it will be on Sunday night. If they are going to battle discouragement…it will be on Sunday night. Trust me on this folks…I am saying what most pastors won’t tell you. When a pastor preaches a message he has SEVERAL adrenalin rushes–ever had one of those? Sure you have! Let’s say you are riding down the road in a car and another car runs a stop sign and you manage to avoid a collision by mere inches. BAM…you get an adrenalin rush that studies show it takes between four to six hours to recover from. NOW–take under consideration that most pastors in today’s world preach more than one sermon per Sunday…and with the shots of adrenalin the body produces to keep the dude going…it completely kicks his butt–I promise. That is why it is so essential to lift him up during this time–he feels like a used washed cloth!
#2 - On Saturday Nights: If I am going to have a sleepless night, other than Sunday night–it’s Saturday. Pastors have a hard time shutting their minds off on Saturday night–we think about the message, the music, who is and is not going to be there…and about one million other things. We can literally drive ourselves crazy. ALSO…for me personally, if I am going to have any sort of nightmare–it’s usually on Saturday night. Oh yeah…PLEASE don’t just pray for him…but his entire family as well!!! There needs to be complete peace in and on the pastor’s house the night before church…and I believe that this comes through people passionately praying to God on his behalf.
#3 - Anytime The Holy Spirit Brings Him To Mind: If you are riding down the road and your pastor’s name pops into your mind…pray for him. It really is that simple. If you are in your living room watching television and his name pops in your mind…pray for him. If you are riding down the road and you see a dead squirrel splatted all over the place and your pastor’s name pops in your mind…PRAY FOR YOURSELF, you have issues!!! The Holy Spirit knows when people need prayer…and I can’t tell you the number of times He’s brought someone’s name to my mind, I’ve prayed for them and then later found out that at the exact time I prayed for them was at a time when God was doing some serious work in their lives. Prayer works…thanks to all of you who pray for my wife, my kids and myself…you will never know how much we appreciate it.
#1 - Sunday Night/Monday Morning: If a pastor ever feels like giving up–it’s either on Sunday night or Monday morning. I would say that 99% of the world’s population doesn’t really have a clue as to what pastors endure emotionally, physically and spiritually. If they are going to be under a heavy spiritual attack…it’s usually during this time. If they are going to have a sleepless night, even though they are exhausted–it will be on Sunday night. If they are going to battle discouragement…it will be on Sunday night. Trust me on this folks…I am saying what most pastors won’t tell you. When a pastor preaches a message he has SEVERAL adrenalin rushes–ever had one of those? Sure you have! Let’s say you are riding down the road in a car and another car runs a stop sign and you manage to avoid a collision by mere inches. BAM…you get an adrenalin rush that studies show it takes between four to six hours to recover from. NOW–take under consideration that most pastors in today’s world preach more than one sermon per Sunday…and with the shots of adrenalin the body produces to keep the dude going…it completely kicks his butt–I promise. That is why it is so essential to lift him up during this time–he feels like a used washed cloth!
#2 - On Saturday Nights: If I am going to have a sleepless night, other than Sunday night–it’s Saturday. Pastors have a hard time shutting their minds off on Saturday night–we think about the message, the music, who is and is not going to be there…and about one million other things. We can literally drive ourselves crazy. ALSO…for me personally, if I am going to have any sort of nightmare–it’s usually on Saturday night. Oh yeah…PLEASE don’t just pray for him…but his entire family as well!!! There needs to be complete peace in and on the pastor’s house the night before church…and I believe that this comes through people passionately praying to God on his behalf.
#3 - Anytime The Holy Spirit Brings Him To Mind: If you are riding down the road and your pastor’s name pops into your mind…pray for him. It really is that simple. If you are in your living room watching television and his name pops in your mind…pray for him. If you are riding down the road and you see a dead squirrel splatted all over the place and your pastor’s name pops in your mind…PRAY FOR YOURSELF, you have issues!!! The Holy Spirit knows when people need prayer…and I can’t tell you the number of times He’s brought someone’s name to my mind, I’ve prayed for them and then later found out that at the exact time I prayed for them was at a time when God was doing some serious work in their lives. Prayer works…thanks to all of you who pray for my wife, my kids and myself…you will never know how much we appreciate it.
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