Six Ways Pastors Pray
As a pastor, I am called on to say a prayer several times each day. My prayers, as Adolph Bedsole noted in Parson to Parson, can be summed up in the following categories:
1. Ritualistic Praying:
This is saying prayers as a part of the pastoral function. Prayers in worship services and other ministry settings.
2. Routine Praying:
Prayers for meals. The prayers spoken as a regular pattern of life.
3. Official Praying:
Prayers at civic functions such as graduations, house blessings and ski races.
4. Emergency Praying:
At times of crisis and deep need -- an urgent calling upon the Lord.
5. Praying on the Run:
Maintaining a spirit of prayer as you navigate the day's events and circumstances.
6. Praying in the Closet (Praying Deep):
Carving out extended time with the Lord to drink deeply from the spiritual well.
ALL pastors engage in the first four kinds of praying. Many actively participate in #5 -- praying on the run.
The greatest lack is in the sixth category. The failure to pray deeply results in shallow living and anemic ministry.
1. Ritualistic Praying:
This is saying prayers as a part of the pastoral function. Prayers in worship services and other ministry settings.
2. Routine Praying:
Prayers for meals. The prayers spoken as a regular pattern of life.
3. Official Praying:
Prayers at civic functions such as graduations, house blessings and ski races.
4. Emergency Praying:
At times of crisis and deep need -- an urgent calling upon the Lord.
5. Praying on the Run:
Maintaining a spirit of prayer as you navigate the day's events and circumstances.
6. Praying in the Closet (Praying Deep):
Carving out extended time with the Lord to drink deeply from the spiritual well.
ALL pastors engage in the first four kinds of praying. Many actively participate in #5 -- praying on the run.
The greatest lack is in the sixth category. The failure to pray deeply results in shallow living and anemic ministry.
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