God has called the church to be His army here upon the earth. We, as that army, are daily involved in the ongoing war for control of each and every soul in the world. As soldiers in this army, we are to work together to both protect the territory (souls) that have been won, and win more territory (souls) from the enemy forces.

In a natural army, for every soldier that is on the front lines fighting against the enemy, there are many more who are standing behind to support in one way or another. In the army of God, the pastors, ministers and leaders of our churches are the front line fighters. They are the ones who are confronting the enemy every day, firing their shots, and being shot at in return. The rest of the Army of God must work to support those battling on the front lines.

If we don't each take our part in this warfare, especially supporting those on the front lines, then they will become easy prey for the enemy and be taken captive. In fact, we see this regularly happening as pastors and ministers fall into sin, or simply give up the ministry.

This army is not one that fights with natural weapons, but supernatural. It is an army that fights upon its knees, bowing down in prayer. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Cor 10:4). What supernatural weapons? The weapons of praise, prayer, and declaration of God's will here upon the earth.

If you, as a soldier in God's Army, care enough and are willing to take your part, you can start by praying for your pastor in these areas:

For His Life

• Protection from sin & personal holiness - Just as you don't send a soldier out to battle without protection from his companions, you can't send your pastor out to battle without standing beside him in prayer to protect him.

• For God's provision - Your pastor's financial needs are as great as your own, yet often the church is not paying him anywhere near the same. Pray that God provides supernaturally for him and his family.

• Time management - There are many demands on a pastor's time. Pray that God help him prioritize the use of his time, and find ways of avoiding entanglements that will waste it.

For His Family

• For his marriage - That God bless his marriage with love, companionship and intimacy. When the pastor's marriage is blessed, he can serve as a better example for the other couples in the church.

• For his children - Often the demands on a pastor's time impede his ability to be available for his own family. Pray God's protection over the hearts and minds of his children, that they not be drawn away into a life of sin. Also pray that the family is able to spend quality time together and build each other up in the Lord.

• Protection from attacks - As with any other soldier on the front line, the attacks are the strongest. Pray that God place a hedge of protection around your pastor, his family, and his home. The less time that the pastor has to focus on fighting for his own life, the more he can fight for yours.

For His Ministry

• Wisdom - Pastors are often faced with impossible problems in the lives of their flocks. Pray that God give supernatural wisdom to your pastor to give godly counsel to those in need.

• Anointing - Without the hand of the Holy Spirit and His supernatural power, the pastor is unable to minister effectively. Pray that he be constantly filled to overflowing with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

• Revelation - It is not enough to only know the Word of God in our heads, but we need it in our hearts as well. Pray that The Holy Spirit bring to life a profound understanding of each and every principle in the Bible.

• Intimacy with the Lord - The more time a believer or minister can spend with the Lord, the more they have to give to others. The deacons were elected in Acts, chapter six so that the apostles could focus on time in prayer, study, and ministry. Pray that the Lord take your pastor aside for special times of intimacy and refreshing.

• Armor bearers - Pray especially that God provide people who will hold up your pastor in prayer and in practical helps. There is no man who can do it all on his own. Each needs armor bearers to help.

Don't just pray a simple prayer asking God to take care of these things. Instead, find our what God's Word says about each of these areas, and declare those blessings over your pastor. Make this a regular part of your prayer life, praying for your pastor each and every day. Not only will he be blessed by it, but you will too.