PASTORAL PRAYER; IT’S ONE OF THE THINGS a pastor is expected to do. We “invocate” at the beginnings of meetings, and “benedict” at the end, and in between we are expected to pray in the language of King James, while communicating the needs and feelings of those present. All the while not sounding too ecclesiastical. The pastor is expected to be bedside at the hospital and nearby the deathbed. The pastor is called upon to pray at the dedication of children, bless the wedding union, and give thanks at the crossing of milestones. Prayer is what a pastor does.
But, those are not the only places that pastoral prayers are heard. In fact, I have been the recipient of numerous pastoral prayers that were never prayed by an official pastor. They were prayers that were prayed for me, prayers of intercession and prayers of blessing.
One such “unofficial” pastor was our dear sister-in-the-Lord, Ruth Freeman. A visit to Ruth always ended not with my “Amen,” but with hers. We would take time to visit, to share about the great things God had done, and that God was doing, and then as I would prepare to leave I would take time to pray. But, as I concluded my intercession, Ruth would begin to pray for me, and how she could pray. If, through my prayers, I opened the door to heaven, Ruth took us right to the throne of God. I believe there were no introductions needed when Ruth entered into the presence of God for she was well known, because she had been there very often.
Ruth prayed pastoral prayers, that is, she prayed for the pastor. Her conversations with God were intimate, sweet, and honest. When the final “Amen” was uttered I was the one who had been blessed. I had come to lift her spirit, and always it was mine that was lifted. I came to be a blessing, but was blessed much more. I shall miss those pastoral prayers, hopefully they will continue for of this thing I am sure, Ruth is in the presence of the Lord, well-known and well-loved.
Ruth, thank you for praying…it made a difference.