Thoughts for Life: #30 Our Epidemic of Falling Pastors

C. Peter Wagner continues to share with us from his book, PRAYER SHIELD, about some pastors:

"Over the past couple of decades, an alarming number of pastors have dropped out of the ministry for two main reasons: pastoral burnout and sexual immorality.

The numbers have reached epidemic proportions.

I cannot remember hearing about pastoral burnout 20 years ago. It must have existed, but not to the degree we see it today.

The situation I have described, #29 Pastors Are Beat Up
(in my Tuesday's post, ), resulting in pastors being so beat up, makes it quite easy to understand why so much burnout would occur.

The enemy knows this well and has become quite astute at raising frustrations through feelings of inadequacy, hypocrisy, guilt and low self-esteem to such levels that selling insurance can seem to some a more attractive way to make a living.

A good bit of psychological research is currently being done on causes and remedies for pastoral burnout.

Good time-management training is helping many to avoid it.

Nevertheless, if I am correct in suspecting that the powers of darkness are also at work in causing burnout, spiritual weapons are also needed.

This is where intercession for pastors has enormous potential."

Today’s post -#30 Our Epidemic of Falling Pastors, in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines.(pg. 64) By Regal Books

Let’s pray:

Father, we come to You now for help to support our pastors and leaders in our local church. We understand better, that our prayers for them are all-important to their welfare and success. May our prayers cover them continually, knowing they are human beings like we are. We know our need of You, so seeing their need anew, we agree they need our prayer support! In Jesus' precious Name we pray, amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Prov. 18:16 AMP "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men." [Gen. 32:20; 1 Sam. 25:27; Prov. 17:8; 21:14]

Today’s quote: Eddie Jones – “God is able to make every grace overflow to you. Grace is the grease that lubricates relationships and keeps the love flowing. When cranky and low on kindness, turn to God. He is able to squirt grease into those rusty relationships.”

Some thoughts today: You have no idea who you are, just yet! You are seated with Christ in heavenly places because of His work in providing for your salvation through His sacrifice on the Cross some 2,000 years ago! Eph. 2:6

- The Cross is the tree to weep at and anchor to.

- Don’t allow your life be dictated by how others treat you.

Saturday’s post: What's in Your Sponge Barbara Latta

Sunday's post: Discovering God's Will Dr. Charles Stanley

A popular post: Biblical Watchmen: Prayer Note #117 Dutch Sheets tells us, "Let's broaden our understanding of biblical watchmen. What was their purpose?"