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"We give thanks to God always for all of you,
constantly mentioning you in our prayers."
(1 Thessalonians 1:2, ESV)
My life was changed by Christ at 13 years old. I was a very anxious teenager growing up with the ups and downs of the oil industry in Corpus Christi, Texas. I watched as men I knew in business went through "boom and bust" in that industry. As an anxious teenager at a youth camp in Kerrville, Texas, I accepted Christ as my Savior. My life has been much less anxious since then. My walk with Christ has had its ups and downs... whenever I am on a "down" in my Christian walk, I often realize that I am not praying enough to the Lord.
Our scripture today, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, ESV: "We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers," reminds us to constantly pray. When was the last time you prayed for your pastor? My advice would be to pray for your pastor often. Mention your pastor and his family in your prayers (know the names of your pastor's immediate family and pray for them). Listen to your pastor's sermons to hear about areas of their lives where they might need prayer (trips, conferences, life changes, struggles, anniversaries, etc.). Also, lift up praises for your pastor in prayer, thank the Lord for bringing them into your life. Additionally, pray to the Lord for ways that you can bless and encourage your pastor.
I am also a big believer in a personal handwritten note. Especially in this fast-paced world of text, emails, Facebook Messenger, or whatever the latest craze is. A handwritten note mailed to the Church is always opened. A mailed note allows the reader to put down all the other means of communication and just focus on this letter of blessing and encouragement from you. Furthermore, notes are often kept for future reading when a pastor needs encouragement.
Be sure and read our devotional tomorrow, as I will share a final great way to encourage your pastor.
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