40 Days of Praying - Day 38

Leaders: Pray for our GCR leaders as they lead us in exciting times. Pray for their protection against the evil one and for energy and passion to see many won to Jesus.

Hebrews 13:17-18 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Hebrews 13:7-8 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brothers, pray for us.

God loves his people so much he gives us leaders. God cares about his sheep so he gives us shepherds. He gives us pastors and preachers and elders and spiritual mothers and fathers. Pray for them. Pray because the devil hates us so much he attacks our leaders. He wants to hurt us so he tries to distract and destroy those God has ordained and called to serve from the front.

I read once that the life expectancy of an officer in the Civil War was far shorter than the life expectancy of a common soldier. I wondered about that for several years. It didn’t make sense to me. The officers often had better accommodations. They rode on horseback instead of marching. They were respected and saluted by their soldiers. Why would they die so often? Then I saw a historical painting of one of the famous battles and I understood. The soldiers where on the ground crawling or firing from behind a ridge of dirt. A few feet behind them was a lieutenant shouting directions from the top of his horse. He was the most visible, obvious, strategic target on the battlefield. If the enemy shot him, any vision or strategy was taken down with him. It is no wonder so many officers died in battle. If they didn’t die, very few survived the war without losing an arm or leg. They went through life with a limp.

You can see the parallel. Pray for your leaders.

O God, thank you for men and women who have been called to care for and lead others. Thank you for their vision, for their gifts to the body of Christ. Thank you for calling them to serve from the front. Grant them honor. Grant them vision. Keep their hearts and minds pure. Keep them humble and hungry for your kingdom. Bless them so that they will bless us. We pray especially for Ronnie White. We pray for wisdom, vision, strength and passion. Lead us through him we pray. For Jesus’ sake, amen.

Grace.