Friday: Psalm 123-124; Numbers 33.38-49; Hebrews 13.17-19

From: Carson Rockett

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. Hebrews 13:17–18

A call to pray for our Pastors

The bible does not shy away from the difficulties of the Christian life. Jesus tells us to “count the cost” before we pick up our cross to follow him. We have passions that wage war against our souls, and an enemy that prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to devour us. 

God does not intend for us to fight this battle by ourselves. He gives us community through the body of Christ, and he also gives us leaders. Pastors are given the high calling of “watching over our souls.” It is hard to overstate the weight of this calling. 

I am thankful to God for the gift he has given to CotC in our pastors, Mark and Chris. I am thankful for leaders that tirelessly pour out their lives for our congregation; and for how soberly they take the call to watch over the souls of our congregation. 

May we, as a congregation, faithfully follow Mark’s and Chris’ leadership and pray earnestly for them as they shepherd our church. I think often we can often overlook the humanity of pastors and lose sight of their need for prayer. We forget that they too have a nature subject to “total depravity.” In fact, pastors in many ways face an even more arduous Christian life, which is one reason we are instructed to pray for them.  

Here are a few thought starters for ways to pray for Mark and Chris: 
1) For their heart to be inclined to God’s Word. 2) For purity; that the Lord keeps them from temptation. 3) For their marriages, and their roles as fathers and leaders of their household. 4) For boldness in their witness of Christ. 5) For energy, health, and vision as they lead CotC.

I am married to my wonderful wife Drue; we are both from the Gulf Coast of Alabama. I currently work in management consulting for Liberty Mutual Group–which is about a 9-iron away from the church office. If anyone would like to drink sweet tea and watch Alabama football this fall, please let us know. Roll Tide.

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