It’s Pastor Appreciation Month! I love how this time has been carved out to express gratitude for those who serve faithfully in obedience to the Lord.
Words can’t describe how incredibly grateful I am for all of my Pastors and their families. Each of them is loving and kind and I am thankful we are truly family in Christ. Every one of my pastors and their families has demonstrated how to live this life the best we can for the glory of God. They model the disciplines of a believer through worship, giving, prayer and fasting, and having a spirit-filled life.
The most impactful of all for me is hearing my pastors teach from God’s Word. The message isn’t always easy, but their obedience to be the mouthpiece of God proves time and again to be powerful, convicting, and life-changing. What truly turns has been freeing for me is to hear my pastors be authentic and transparent. How humbling it is to know that we are all on this journey together and that we need to pray for our pastors, their families, and what they are called to do.
The calling of pastors is a labor of love. We can see such from reading about the apostle Paul’s life in the New Testament. To be a servant of God involves sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears. It means being misunderstood at times and not always appreciated. It involves struggles with marriage, children, finances, and a host of other issues that one doesn’t sign up for when accepting the call.
My heart overflows when I think about the time, talent, and treasure Pastors and their families invest to help point us in the direction God wants us to follow. Their love, prayers, encouragement, and support have been instrumental in my walk with the Lord growing and developing into what it is today.
My prayer for every Pastor is found in 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Dear Friend, take a moment today to appreciate your Pastor and their family. Tell them you are grateful for them. Write them a card. Send them flowers. Bless them with a meal. But most importantly, pray for your Pastor and their family to walk with strength, wisdom, and revelation.
~Joyce
