My Dear Shepherds,

During a terribly difficult season, too personal to talk about then or now, I suspected at least some in our congregation knew enough about it to pray for me. There’s a Greek word for that: synypourgounton.

At the beginning of 2 Corinthians, after Paul told them how “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” had consoled him when he “despaired of life itself,” he told them how he depended on their prayers:

On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Cor. 1:10b–11)

There’s that Greek word, disguised in ordinary English clothes, “as you help us by your prayers.” Used only here in the New Testament, it’s a compound of with-under-work. Laborers together under a burden. One—two—three—LIFT! The very reason we ask others to pray for us.

I wonder if we pastors too seldom seek the load-lifting prayers of others? For all his boldness, Paul was often very vulnerable. He had just written, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure.” When he bid farewell to the Ephesian elders, he reminded them, “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing.”

Paul asked for prayer eight times in his letters. His requests reflected his calling as a missionary. Our most pressing needs as local church pastors may be a little different, but I know there were many in my churches who would have gladly interceded for me had I been more forthcoming with requests akin to Paul’s.

God’s encouragement when we’re hurting. We each face terribly difficult burdens sometimes. Often the details cannot be public, but our needs can be. “Please pray for me. This is a difficult time, and I need God’s encouragement and direction.”

Safety and deliverance from the attacks of our enemy and the enemies of the gospel. Ask others to pray as Paul did that you may be “kept safe” from “wicked and evil people” and from the powers of this dark world and the heavenly realms—battles which require reinforcements. This is no secret mission.

Open doors. Some doors are closed because those on the other side are throwing all their weight against them. Other times, there is a need or frontier that we don’t know how to overcome. Enlist the congregation. Be specific. Echo our early church siblings who “raised their voices together in prayer to God.”

Preaching and teaching ministries. Paul asked the Ephesians to pray “that whenever I speak words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” He asked the Colossians, “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” We may change the adverb in these requests (fearlessly, clearly), to reflect our own preaching needs (lovingly, simply, persuasively), but our flock will help us preach by their prayers.

I recruited a group of people I called Aaron’s Army to pray for my preaching three or four times each week. Occasionally I’d email them to pray for an especially difficult series or when my bouts of Saturday night insomnia got the best of me.

Your people love you, and some love you deeply. They will pray for you because prayer is a love language. Enlist them. Depend on them. The Lord is listening.

Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored.

Be ye glad!

Lee Eclov recently retired after 40 years of local pastoral ministry and now focuses on ministry among pastors. He writes a weekly devotional for preachers on Preaching Today.