The Pastoral Prayer

I received an encouraging note on Sunday evening's prayer: "you nailed every single thing I've been fighting with or struggling with in a very specific way. Insane. Our God is amazing like that."

He is amazing. I remember while sitting on the platform wondering what I would be praying about. It is amazing how the Holy Spirit generates thoughts in one "jar of clay" that at the same time speaks to the hearts of many "jars of clay" in their multiple experiences.

If I had to analyze why my pastoral prayers have impacted others, I think it lies in this: I pray what impacts me, what I need to hear. What you hear is not only a pastor praying for and on behalf of his people, but one who is praying for himself.