May prayer be made for him continually and blessings invoked for him all day long. – Psalm 72:15b

El Salmo 72 es un canto de coronación para un rey y ofrece una visión del liderazgo que incluye servir a Dios sirviendo al pueblo: buscando la justicia, defendiendo a los pobres y dirigiendo con rectitud. Esto no es tan diferente de nuestra llamada como líderes de la fe. Así como el Salmo pide al líder que considere preciosas las vidas a las que sirve (v. 14), nosotros prometemos considerar preciosas las vidas a las que servimos. Prometemos rezar por la gente y tratar de servirles con energía, inteligencia, imaginación y amor.

In whatever season you’re in, let us lift up the first part: the promise to pray for the folks we serve and serve alongside.

We also need to remember the other side of the coin. In our tradition, when we install/ordain new officers and pastors into service, our congregations take a vow to pray for their leaders. I wonder how often we remember to pray for our leaders. Pastors, are we lifting up our elders? Are we lifting up our leaders in the upper levels of the denomination? Elders, are you lifting up your pastors? How can we encourage our congregations to lift us up as leaders, trusting them to fulfill this vow they took to pray for us?

May this blessing lift you up today, knowing that you are in my prayers today. Whatever season of leadership you are in right now, know that you are prayed for and with. Lift up the leaders who serve with you and apart from you. And may each of us leaders continue to seek to pray for the people and serve with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.