The Pastor’s Prayer
As I begin to write we have just returned home from our weekend trip to Denver. When I woke up this morning, I felt more fatigue and less strength than I had yesterday. But I was pleased to still be able to ambulate around with my walker instead of depending on my wheelchair.
We attended church at Red Rocks Fellowship pastored by Jack McCoullough. This church is located just east of Dakota Ridge Assembly where I served for almost 15 years. It was good to see their expanded facility and to connect with friends and individuals that have been praying for me and to see people that I represented during my tenure as a State Representative. We enjoyed a nice lunch and fellowship with Pastor Jack and Sharon. What a pleasant ministry couple committed to their community.
We returned to Christian and Bridget’s home and I took a nap while Debbie did some work on her computer and took care of the grandkids. When I woke up from my nap, I was having a little trouble getting off the couch so Eliana (3 years old) got behind me on the couch and helped me up! As I have said before she is a great care-giver and enjoys helping her grandpa.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service….Remember me, O my God, for good.” Nehemiah 13:14,31
The book of Nehemiah begins and ends with him praying. Nehemiah was used of the Lord to restore the walls around Jerusalem. He sought and received the favor of the King, but the project faced opposition and challenges, from rallying people, to getting them organized to threats from enemies.
In spite of it all, the project was completed quickly because the Lord’s favor was upon them. But after rebuilding walls, Nehemiah found himself undertaking the project of rebuilding people. The Priest Ezra and the scribes read the Law of Moses and explained it to the people as the covenant was renewed. Then Nehemiah found one of those who created the most trouble (Tobiah) while rebuilding the walls, was allowed to occupy a room in the Temple. He then discovered that there had been intermarriage between the Israelites and women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. This had been strictly forbidden so Nehemiah had to address this issue. All of this took place while he was in the process of setting “God’s House” in order.
When I read some of these details, I think “and such is the life of a pastor.” There are a myriad of leadership challenges and just when a major building project is completed you find there is still much more work to do and that taking a “breather” and sitting back and enjoying one success is met with the next challenge. A pastor not only feels the responsibility of leadership for the congregation, but for the spiritual development of the people in the church as well.
So we find Nehemiah at the end asking the Lord to simply remember him for the good that he has done. To me this can be viewed as the “pastor’s prayer.” No human leader is perfect, but all are committed to the service of the Lord and His house. When all the work comes to an end, they simply desire to hear the Lord’s commendation of “well done, good and faithful servant.”
October is “Pastor Appreciation Month.” If you are part of a local congregation, be sure to let your pastor and church staff know that they are loved and appreciated and kept in your prayers.