"Several surveys have been done on the prayer life of pastors.
Before I report on them, however, I want to be sure that you realize I may not be talking about your pastor when I site averages.
Your pastor might be one of those above average, even far above average.
Chances are that you do not really know offhand where your pastor stands because few church members do.
Not that your pastor intends that his or her prayer life be kept a secret, but in most cases it is.
When Leadership journal conducted a survey of 125 pastors' prayer lives, the majority felt they were virtually without human support in their devotional lives.
By some mutual agreement, it seems to be an inappropriate topic of conversation in the parish.
One of the pastors surveyed says, "I get the feeling others don't think my personal devotional life is important."
In the years that he had been on the staff of this particular church, he says, "Not one person (including the senior pastor) has asked me about the health of my personal faith. I feel totally unsupported in this aspect of my life."
The majority of the 125 pastors surveyed harbored similar feelings.
I personally conducted a survey of 572 American pastors across regional, age and denominational lines.
I wanted to find out just how much time a day pastors spend in actual prayer.
In this survey I was not counting Bible study, reading devotional books, listening to worship tapes or other components of a fully rounded devotional life. i was dealing only with prayer.
57 percent pray less than 20 minutes a day.
34 percent pray between 20 minutes and 1 hour a day.
9 percent pray 1 hour or more a day.
The average prayer time was 22 minutes daily.
I did not find a significant variation in age, although the pastors over 60 years of age seemed to pray a little less than the others.
I found no regional variation. I did find what may be a significant
theological variation in that pastors who perceive themselves as
Pentecostals/charismatics report praying for longer periods of
time than those who see themselves as evangelicals or liberals.
. . . my survey also showed that 28 percent—more than 1 out of 4—prayed less than 10 minutes a day!"
Today’s post - #38 How Much Do Pastors Pray?, 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. (pp. 78,79) By Regal Books)
Before I report on them, however, I want to be sure that you realize I may not be talking about your pastor when I site averages.
Your pastor might be one of those above average, even far above average.
Chances are that you do not really know offhand where your pastor stands because few church members do.
Not that your pastor intends that his or her prayer life be kept a secret, but in most cases it is.
When Leadership journal conducted a survey of 125 pastors' prayer lives, the majority felt they were virtually without human support in their devotional lives.
By some mutual agreement, it seems to be an inappropriate topic of conversation in the parish.
One of the pastors surveyed says, "I get the feeling others don't think my personal devotional life is important."
In the years that he had been on the staff of this particular church, he says, "Not one person (including the senior pastor) has asked me about the health of my personal faith. I feel totally unsupported in this aspect of my life."
The majority of the 125 pastors surveyed harbored similar feelings.
I personally conducted a survey of 572 American pastors across regional, age and denominational lines.
I wanted to find out just how much time a day pastors spend in actual prayer.
In this survey I was not counting Bible study, reading devotional books, listening to worship tapes or other components of a fully rounded devotional life. i was dealing only with prayer.
57 percent pray less than 20 minutes a day.
34 percent pray between 20 minutes and 1 hour a day.
9 percent pray 1 hour or more a day.
The average prayer time was 22 minutes daily.
I did not find a significant variation in age, although the pastors over 60 years of age seemed to pray a little less than the others.
I found no regional variation. I did find what may be a significant
theological variation in that pastors who perceive themselves as
Pentecostals/charismatics report praying for longer periods of
time than those who see themselves as evangelicals or liberals.
. . . my survey also showed that 28 percent—more than 1 out of 4—prayed less than 10 minutes a day!"
Today’s post - #38 How Much Do Pastors Pray?, 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. (pp. 78,79) By Regal Books)
(Google images added)
Let’s pray:
Father, we have been negligent in praying for quality prayer time for our pastor(s), and we repent for it, right now. Open our eyes to this need of theirs. May we not take it for granted that they take care of their daily praying without interference. Help us understand that this is an important aspect of their lives as our leaders.
Hear us today, as we ask for Your Spirit to urge them to find, and take time to pray alone for Your enablement to do the ministry You've called them to. We pray for the others in their families, that they will understand their need for private time to pray. We pray this in Christ's Name, amen.
Today’s Bible verse: Ps. 51:6 "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thous shalt make me to know wisdom"
Today’s quote: Ellen Romig – “The Father’s love (affection) for Jesus Christ is revealed in John. The believer has a single truth to view themselves as 'God’s favorite.' This is a powerful reality of desire, pleasure, and longing. Take time to crawl into the arms of the Savior and abide in Him.”
Some thoughts today:
- Jesus shares His victory with us . . . 1 Cor. 15:54-56
- We're to find our worth in Christ. Jesus knew Who He was, and He had His security in God, His Father. We're to take our position in Him. Our destiny is in Christ! (Be sure to read Sunday's post: "You Are Who God Says You Are "
- The "platform" God gives us, is our opportunity He gives us to influence others, and to draw them to Him through our living. It's not about us, it's about Him!
Saturday’s post: Praying With Confidence Dr. Charles Stanley
Sunday's post: You Are Who God Says You Are God's promises
Tuesday's post: #39 Clergy Prayer in Other Nations C. Peter Wagner
- We're to find our worth in Christ. Jesus knew Who He was, and He had His security in God, His Father. We're to take our position in Him. Our destiny is in Christ! (Be sure to read Sunday's post: "You Are Who God Says You Are "
- The "platform" God gives us, is our opportunity He gives us to influence others, and to draw them to Him through our living. It's not about us, it's about Him!
Saturday’s post: Praying With Confidence Dr. Charles Stanley
Sunday's post: You Are Who God Says You Are God's promises
Tuesday's post: #39 Clergy Prayer in Other Nations C. Peter Wagner
How We Encourage Others Faced with our Own Adversity "Too often when someone comes out of difficulty (or is in the middle of one) they need and seek desperately the encouragement of others. Why? I believe it's because during the trials they did not rely fully on the Lord for their strength, but instead learned to depend on the emotional support of others."
Samples of Jean's crafts
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Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse
Samples of Jean's crafts
http://twitter.com/jeanoathout
http://facebook.com/jean.oathout
Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse
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