Who Prays for The Preacher?

Pray for me Preacher! he shouted as he was walking away..."OK" I shouted back  ,not really knowing what to pray for ,  just knowing  that God could fill in the blanks that  I may have left open as I prayed..

This is the scene all too often in with what I do.. ."Pray for Uncle Bob or Pray for Aunt Betty" , "Pray for My Mom of Pray for my Dad" or  "Pray for this ,pray for that"....pray ,pray , pray.... And so I do.  I pray for people I don't even know upon the request of someone I do know... I pray for our Leaders ,yes even HIM.

Why? - because if I can pray for people who I know NOTHING about , I can CERTAINLY pray for a man who is under the microscope of the American people especially when so many are unhappy with him and the decisions he has made in the last 4 years. I can't  IMAGINE the pressure he and his family must be under... SO even though I don't support his politics , his beliefs or his lackluster performance - I certainly can pray for him as a human being ,a father and a husband. He is human and humans need prayers to a righteous God who can save.... There is no doubt HE NEEDS IT.

So  , this got me thinking -  As and Evangelist , I do ALOT of praying..ALOT of encouraging...ALOT of caring - even for my enemies  ( Mathew 5:44).  I pray because I can't help myself... I pray because I'm helpless... I pray because the need flows out of me all the time both waking and sleeping...... I pray  NOT because it could ever  change God - but because  it changes ME.

I get discouraged. I get frustrated. I struggle with sin...and I fail - Just like everyone else. I am not immune to humanity..If anything I am numbed by it...almost made callous due to over exposure of it...and that's when I need God to prick my heart again and make me understand why Jesus Wept... to make me understand my need for Christ in my life ... to remind   me that I am NOT bullet proof , but rather frail and fragile as everyone ...and to make me see fully , the power of PRAYER.

So who prays for the preacher? Who prays for the one who continually prays for others? Who prays for ME when I need it?

The correct answer should be "Anyone I ask to"...

All too often we assume because the preacher is solid when in fact he may be the one that needs prayer the most at that moment. Handling rightly the word of God comes with a massive responsibility and accountability ,as it should. James warns us in chapter 3 verse 1 of his letter "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." There is no "almost right"...its right or its wrong when it comes to handling Gods teaching.  This alone is enough to call for the prayers of others on the Preachers behalf..

But even in the small things of life - Money troubles , family stress, keeping up appearances  or possibly -  even moving your family to another state   to serve with a congregation there (yes , this one is about me) - Prayers are not just welcomed  , they are MUCH needed.

There is no sound louder than that of a prayer not heard on your behalf ... especially when it has been requested.

So pray. Prayer FOR our leaders AND  about our leaders ,  The Lord knows they need God's guidance whether they think they do or not.  Pray for the Preachers everywhere fighting the Good fight , we are human bleed just like you do...

And pray for each other. James 5:16 says "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

They can ....  and they do...

But no prayer at all accomplishes just that - nothing.

I will pray for... so please - Pray for me.

The invitation t study the bible is still open.....  ;)

Read the book of James.. yes, all of it.