“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…”

  - Luke 22.32

May the almighty God of all consolation and pity preserve the very few good shepherds from all harm, and, conquering the common enemy, make them citizens of the heavenly city of Jerusalem, that is, of the congregation of all the saints...

  -Gildas, The Ruin of Britain, British, 6th century[1]

I hope you already pray for your pastor – daily, earnestly, and faithfully.

Gildas was reflecting on the terrible condition of the Church in Britain in his day, and the woeful stewardship of the shepherds of God’s flock there. Only a handful were being faithful to the Gospel while the others had all lapsed into a kind of cultural Christianity that was ruining the nation.

It was these latter types – shepherds who were comfortable and at ease while their flocks languished – who, first, tried to prevent Patrick from going to Ireland, and then, sixty years later, wanted to yank him off the field on spurious charges. Patrick rebutted their charges and urged them to a more faithful pursuit of their callings.

Faithful pastors need the faithful prayers of their people to support them. Pray that God will preserve your pastor – from the temptations of the flesh, from the allure of a secularized approach to leading your church, from discouragement, from falling for the “numbers game” as the final test of a healthy, growing church.

Pray that the Lord will keep the devil from distracting your pastor, diverting his energies into the wrong efforts, or discouraging him to the point of spiritual despair.

Pray that his faith will not fail, in spite of the growing assaults against the faith of Christ that we are experiencing all around us, and that he will fight the good fight to the end.

Then, when you’ve prayed for your pastor, write him to let him know. Assure him of your prayers, love, and support. Insist that you will stand by him in prayer and with him in the battle, come what may.

Spend a week meditating on Psalm 82. Here God calls together the “gods” – the judges or pastors – of Israel in order to rebuke them for failing in their calling and to warn them of His judgment if they do not repent. Pray this psalm for your pastor and all the pastors in your community, that God would confront them where they are failing and confirm them where they are being faithful in their work.

I work with pastors all week long, all over the country. I can tell you that very few of them receive much consistent, meaningful encouragement from the people in their care. Why not break the mold and set a new course for supporting your pastor?

Pray for your pastor, let him know, then fall in behind him as he leads your congregation into the work of building the church and seeking the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And if you’re a pastor, pray for and encourage the other pastors in your community, to spur them on in love and good works (Heb. 10.24).

Psalm 82.1, 2, 8 (Aurelia: “The Church’s One Foundation”)
God stands amid His people to judge their rulers all:
How long will they oppress those who on His favor call?
How long will they the wicked show partiality,
And treat with scorn the meek who their proper care should be?

Rise up, O God, in splendor according to Your worth!
Rise up in pow’r to judge all the nations of the earth!
Rise up, O God our Savior, and hear our fervent call,
For You possess and rule o’er the nations, one and all!

Thank You, Lord, for my pastor; I pray your blessings and strength to be with all those who faithfully minister Your Word.

Give your pastor a gift
At The Fellowship of Ailbe we maintain an active ministry to pastors and shepherds through our Pastor to Pastor outreach. This includes opportunities for assessment and study, praying with other pastors for revival, a weekly newsletter, and a monthly devotional resource using great works of pastoral theology from the past. Send your pastor a link to our website – or better yet, forward today’s Crosfigell to your pastor, with the promise that you’ll be praying for him – and encourage him to join you in The Ailbe Community.

And while you’re in the gift-giving mood, don’t forget: We need you to share with us in this ministry. We rejoice to see God touching the hearts of many of you as we receive your contributions. Use the donate button here or at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you very much. Keep us in your prayers, and tell your friends about The Fellowship of Ailbe. God is doing great things among us, and we rejoice in all His lovingkindness.

Psalms to Pray for Today, and Tuesday
Today
Morning: Psalm 119.57-64; Psalm 149
Evening: Psalm 74

Tuesday
Morning: Psalm 119.65-72; Psalm 150
Evening: Psalm 75

T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.