Six Ways Pastors Pray

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As a pastor, I was often called upon to say prayers several times a day. My prayers, as Adolph Bedsole (1964)  noted in Parson to Parson, can be summarized by the following categories:

1.  Ritualistic Praying: 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. A failure to pray deeply results in shallow living and anemic ministry.
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Bedsole, A. (1964) Parson to Parson. Baker Book House.

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