I prayed for my pastor today.

He had crawled up into the church’s playground equipment and was scrubbing graffitied profanity with a magic eraser.

As I watched him scrub, I thought of the many times people brought him their sins, cloaked as problems to be solved. Instead of offering magic erasers, my pastor gave the Gospel Truth that Jesus is the only One who can forgive sins, and repentance is all that is needed.

I prayed for my pastor today.

He was cooking the potluck meal in the church kitchen while he worked on his sermon. Stirring mashed potatoes for shepherd’s pie, he prepared a spiritual feast for the sheep as well. He yearned for them to sink their teeth into the meat of the Scripture and not just be satisfied with milk.

While they listened, he fed them, and while they ate, he fed them, even as he was being fed by the Good Shepherd.

I prayed for my pastor today.

He rose early to take a church member to have surgery in a distant town. While checking in at the hospital, he saw more church attendees whom he prayed with. He encouraged them all to be as spiritually healthy as possible so that they would be ready anytime they encountered times of physical ailment.

Then, he hurried home to ride with his family to his own son’s football game in a different distant town.

He didn’t count the miles he put on his vehicle that day. They were all miles spent following Jesus.

I prayed for my pastor today.

He got a late night call from someone who was drunk. He gave them some sleepy counsel and prayed with them. He awoke to another need to counsel those in marriage crisis. Even while counseling, his phone lit up with more need.

Jesus had compassion for the crowds. They were like sheep without a shepherd, but then, Jesus became that Good Shepherd and commanded his under-shepherds to tend and feed His sheep. I know my pastor can’t shoulder all those needs on his own, and so, I pray that he places every burden on the shoulders of Christ.

I prayed for my pastor today.

He was reroofing our church. Keeping out leaks, protecting the flock, and providing a sturdy covering takes time, attention, and sweat equity. He poured in all three.

It made me think of the unseen hours he covers the congregation in prayer.

I prayed for my pastor today.

It is Pastor Appreciation Month, after all, and my pastor is my husband. I know better than anyone else that he needs the Lord’s help to do all the things that he does, and it is such a privilege to stand firm beside him in prayer.

Have you prayed for your pastor today? Make Pastor Appreciation Month the month you start.

Sarah Dixon Young uses stories everyday to share the love of Jesus with her family, friends, and neighbors. She lives in Fort Totten, ND with her husband, Paul, and their four children. She is the author of five books, many articles, and more Sunday School lessons than she can count. You can follow her adventures or get in touch at www.SarahDixonYoung.com