Pray for Both Faithful and Fallen Leaders
ANITHA ABRAHAM
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“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:15-16 (NIV)
Every time we hear it in the news, it hits hard. Another Christian leader has fallen into moral failure.
This may feel like the norm, but it isn’t — and it’s not God’s desire. As far back as the Old Testament, we see several examples of God lamenting and disciplining moral failures among His chosen leaders and even His designated priests.
In Exodus 32, Israel’s high priest, Aaron, made a golden calf for the people to worship. Later, Aaron’s two sons Nadab and Abihu lost their lives because they “offered strange (unauthorized, unacceptable) fire before the LORD, [an act] which He had not commanded them to do” (Leviticus 10:1, AMP). Still, God chose Aaron’s descendants to steward His tabernacle and serve His people.
Fast-forward to today. There are men and women worldwide who have said “yes” to public, vocational ministry as pastors, speakers, authors, missionaries, and nonprofit leaders. For all those who have fallen into moral failure, countless others haven’t. They just don’t make the news. Faithfulness doesn't make a catchy headline.
But many Christian leaders, knowing they are not perfect, do their best to be the hands and feet of Jesus, both when people are watching and when they aren’t.
They serve God faithfully. They study His Word. They share the gospel. They disciple the Church.
They pray for the hurting. They visit the sick. They counsel the broken.
They honor their covenant with their spouses. They lovingly raise their children. They abide by the law.
They love people. They love God.
As the Church, let’s keep praying for the countless men and women still faithfully doing the work of ministry, just as Paul prayed for and encouraged the Ephesian church: “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16).
Pray that the Lord would raise up leaders who follow Him in what they say, think, and do. Pray that God would help them not “yield to temptation, but rescue [them] from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13, NLT). Pray that they would walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, whether or not they're standing on a stage. We can even let them know we’re praying for them and thank them for their efforts — a little encouragement goes a long way.
And the next time we hear of a ministry leader who has fallen, we can pray for them, their family, and those in their church community who have been impacted. God can heal, restore, and redeem.
Father, thank You for the people who encourage and equip Your Church. Cover and fill them with Your wisdom and power. And for those who have fallen, we pray that they would repent and turn back to You in word and deed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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ENGAGE
To help you engage in God’s Word every day, check out Quest For More: A One Year Devotional Through the Bible, co-written by today’s devotion writer, Anitha Abraham.
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Luke 22:32, “but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith]” (AMP).
What is one way you can show your appreciation to a local church pastor or ministry leader?
We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.
© 2025 by Anitha Abraham. All rights reserved.
