Prayer points with Scriptures · 21 points
Prayer Points for Pastors and Church Leaders
These prayer points for pastors and church leaders are for church members, prayer teams, elders and anyone who wants to hold up the people who shepherd them. They cover thanks for our pastors, their walk with God, their preaching and leading, strength, rest and protection, the pastor’s wife and family, and the elders, deacons and staff who serve alongside them. Use them in Pastor Appreciation Month or in any ordinary week.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:19-20 (BSB)
Pray with your own pastors’ names in each prayer. A prayer team can take one section each Sunday; a family can pray one point at dinner. Read the verse aloud, pray the short prayer, and add what you know of their needs. Then let your pastor know you prayed, and which verse you prayed for them.
Thanksgiving for our pastors
1Thanks for those who care for us
Father, thank You for the pastors who work hard among us, care for us in the Lord and lovingly correct us. Help us hold them in highest regard because of their work, and keep peace between pastor and people.
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (BSB)2Remembering those who taught us
Lord, we remember the leaders who spoke the word of God to us, past and present. Thank You for their faithfulness. Help us consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7 (BSB)3Honoring those who lead well
God, thank You for elders who lead well and work hard at preaching and teaching. Show our church practical ways to honor them, with encouragement, fair care for their needs, and gratitude spoken out loud.
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:17 (BSB)
Their walk with God
4Abiding in Christ
Lord Jesus, keep our pastors remaining in You. Before they feed others, feed them. Guard their own time in the Word and prayer, because no branch can bear fruit unless it remains in the vine.
Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
John 15:4 (BSB)5Watching their life and teaching
Father, help our pastors pay close attention to their own lives and to their teaching. Keep them persevering in sound doctrine and honest living, for their own good and for the good of everyone who hears them.
Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1 Timothy 4:16 (BSB)6Integrity and purity
Holy God, guard our pastors from temptation. Help them flee what would ruin them and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness, at home and online as much as in the pulpit.
But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:11 (BSB)
Their preaching and leading
7Clear and faithful preaching
Lord, open doors for the word through our pastors. As they study and preach, help them proclaim the mystery of Christ clearly, as they should, so that the gospel is plain to every listener.
as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:3-4 (BSB)8Handling the Word accurately
God of truth, make our pastors unashamed workers who accurately handle the word of truth. Give them protected time to study, insight into the text, and courage to preach all of Scripture, not only the easy parts.
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (BSB)9Shepherding willingly and by example
Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd, help our pastors watch over Your flock willingly and eagerly, not out of compulsion or for gain, never lording it over people but leading by example, looking to the crown of glory You will give.
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
1 Peter 5:2-4 (BSB)10Wisdom for hard decisions
Father, our leaders face hard decisions about people, money, conflict and direction. Give them wisdom generously, without finding fault, as You promise to those who ask, and give them unity as they decide together.
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5 (BSB)
Strength, rest and protection
11Strength when they are weary
LORD, You give power to the faint and strength to the weak. When our pastors are worn out by long weeks and heavy hearts, renew their strength as they wait on You, so they can run and not grow weary.
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31 (BSB)12Real rest
Lord Jesus, You told Your tired disciples to come away with You and rest a while. Give our pastors real rest: a day off they keep, unhurried time with family, and freedom from guilt when they stop.
And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Mark 6:31 (BSB)13Pressed but not crushed
Father, when our pastors are hard pressed on every side, keep them from being crushed. When they are perplexed, criticized or struck down, hold them up, so that they are never in despair and never forsaken.
We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (BSB)14Guarded from the evil one
Lord, You are faithful. Strengthen our pastors and guard them from the evil one: from temptation, discouragement, division and every scheme against them and their families.
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (BSB)
The pastor’s wife and family
15A strong marriage
Father, bless our pastors’ marriages. Help husband and wife honor each other as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, and protect time for their marriage from the endless demands of ministry.
Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 (BSB)16The pastor’s wife
Lord, bless our pastor’s wife. Free her from unfair expectations and the weight of other people’s problems. When she is anxious, let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and give her true friends.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (BSB)17The pastor’s children
Father, protect our pastors’ children from the pressure of growing up in the spotlight. Let them know You for themselves, love Your church in spite of its flaws, and walk in the truth, their parents’ greatest joy.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4 (BSB)
Church leaders and our part
18Elders, deacons and staff
Holy Spirit, help our elders, deacons, staff and ministry leaders keep watch over themselves and over the whole flock, the church of God which He bought with His own blood.
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Acts 20:28 (BSB)19Humble servant leaders
Lord Jesus, keep our leaders from selfish ambition and empty pride. Make them humble, putting the interests of others ahead of their own, and keep them united with one another as they serve together.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 (BSB)20Helping them lead with joy
Father, make us a congregation that is a joy to lead. Help us follow our leaders willingly, speak to them honestly and refuse gossip, so that they can lead with joy and not with grief.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Hebrews 13:17 (BSB)21Holding up their arms
God, as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands until the sun went down, show us how to hold up our pastors: with prayer, encouragement, practical help and loyalty when things are hard.
When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.
Exodus 17:12 (BSB)
A closing prayer
Father, thank You for the pastors and leaders You have given us. Keep them close to Jesus, faithful to Your Word and clear in proclaiming the gospel. Give them strength when they are weary, rest when they are spent, and protection from the evil one. Bless their marriages and their children. Help us honor them, follow them gladly and hold up their arms in prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pray with a voice
Short prayers with a voice to pray along with, each drawn from one passage.
Questions
What does the Bible say about praying for pastors?
Paul repeatedly asked churches to pray for him and his co-workers: for words to make known the gospel boldly (Ephesians 6:19-20), for an open door and a clear message (Colossians 4:3-4), and for the word to spread and for rescue from wicked and evil men (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2). Hebrews 13:17-18 urges believers to help their leaders serve with joy, and to pray for them.
When is Pastor Appreciation Month?
Many churches in the United States observe Pastor Appreciation Month in October, often with a Pastor Appreciation Day on the second Sunday of October. Praying through these points together that Sunday, and telling your pastors you are praying for them, is a simple way to honor those who lead well (1 Timothy 5:17). Any week of the year works just as well.
How can I pray for my pastor’s family?
Pray for their marriage to be protected and refreshed (1 Peter 3:7), for the pastor’s spouse to have true friends and freedom from unfair expectations, and for their children to know Christ for themselves (3 John 1:4). Pray for unhurried time together and help the church respect their days off. You can also simply ask your pastor what to pray for.
More prayer points
Every verse on this page is quoted word for word from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which its publishers dedicated to the public domain. Copy, print and share these prayer points freely with your church.