1 Timothy  3:1  This saying is trustworthy:  If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a good work.

Psalm 23:1 -3  The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. V:2  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.  V:3 He restores my soul;  He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name sake.

When the scriptures give reference to ‘shepherds’ they speak generally of God being our Chief Shepherd, or they speak of men that have answered the call of God and who have accepted the responsibility of “shepherding” God’s people. Today I want to cast attention on the latter subject, although anyone who desires to be a shepherd or pastor should do so with a very clear understanding that that call comes from God and pastors receive a stricter judgement.  (James 3:1)

Being a Pastor is a full time job.  Most of the Pastors I know work a regular job while they juggle the responsibilities of the church and their families. We all take one or more of them for granted and even among pastors there is a need for a pastor. So what is a pastor?  He is a friend, a mentor, an example and he is patient.  He is able to teach leading his congregation into the green grass of biblical truth while doing so in a way that crosses every social age group or ethnicity. He is humorous and he is loyal, and if I say much more you will think I am describing Jesus Himself, or am I?  Is not that what we all should strive to emulate?  How much more a pastor?  Imagine the people that come and go from any given church in a year?  What must the world look like from the broken hearts of the men of God.  We need to pray for all those who are in church leadership, but especially our pastors.

” Dear Heavenly Father”,  right now we pray for the pulpits of America and we ask that you would resurrect the fire that once burned from the shores of this countries beginning. We ask that mighty men would be raised up to accomplish your will in these end times.  We pray for their strength, their families, and their testimonies as we ask you to safe guard the work that you have begun in all our lives.  We desperately need you to touch the leaders of our nation and let your judgement begin with the house of God. We are in need of your intervention as now, more then ever, we need men who will chase after you Lord until all the promises  are fulfilled in this day and in this hour. Thank you Father for the men of God you have placed in our lives and we lift them up to you asking that you continue to prepare our hearts through your Spirit within them. Protect them  and their families from the assault of the wicked one, in Jesus Name……Amen”                Pray for our leaders believing that God will start with the hearts of His own people first! We want to keep all godly leadership lifted up in prayer as well.  Where would we be without them?

Quote of the day:  ”Never water down the Word of God, but preach it in its undiluted sternness.  There must be unflinching faithfulness to the Word of God, but when it comes to personal dealings with others you must remember who you are- you are not some special being created in heaven, but a sinner saved by grace”.  Oswald Chambers