Tag Archive | prayer

The Prayer Life of a Youth Pastor

I’ve been reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, and two prayer principles hit me right between the eyes: you need to pray through and you need to pray boldly.

I’ll be honest—these aren’t my strong points. I pray for my students. I pray for situations they’re facing. I pray for my own ministry. But if I’m being real, I rarely pray it through. Too often, I drop a situation at God’s feet, check it off the list, and move on to the next need. And bold prayers? I wish I could say I swing for the fences every time I talk to God, but truthfully, I often play it safe.

The problem is that safe prayers don’t require much faith. “God, help Johnny have a good day at school” isn’t bad, but it’s not bold. It’s safe. It doesn’t stretch my faith or expect God to move in ways only He can. I can’t help but wonder how many miracles I’ve missed because I stopped praying too soon—or never prayed big enough in the first place.

Batterson says that “praying through” means you keep praying until God answers—no matter how long it takes. It’s the relentless widow from Luke 18 who refuses to give up. It’s Elijah praying for rain seven times on Mount Carmel before he saw even the smallest cloud. It’s Jacob wrestling with God and saying, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.”

And “praying boldly” is about asking God to do what only He can do—dreaming God-sized dreams and daring to believe He can pull them off. It’s Joshua asking God to make the sun stand still. It’s Peter stepping out of the boat and onto the water. It’s the early church praying for Peter’s release from prison in Acts 12—and being shocked when he actually showed up at the door.

If I’m honest, my prayer life has been more “drive-thru” than “pray through.” I’ve prayed prayers like I’m ordering from a menu—quick, specific, and on to the next thing. But God is calling me (and maybe you too) to linger. To keep circling those prayers in faith until He answers.

Youth ministry is full of challenges that require more than clever ideas or better programming. Students are wrestling with anxiety, identity, temptation, and brokenness. We need God to move in their lives in ways that only He can. And that means we’ve got to start praying with a stubborn faith and a holy boldness.

So here’s my challenge to you—and to myself: Pick one situation in your ministry and pray it through. Keep circling it until God answers. And don’t be afraid to pray boldly. Ask God for the impossible. Believe He can. Then watch how your faith grows when He shows up.

The prayer life of a youth pastor isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being persistent and courageous. Let’s be leaders who refuse to give up and refuse to play it safe. Let’s pray through. Let’s pray boldly. And let’s watch God do what only He can do.

What bold prayer are you praying for? I’m in the trenches with you. Let’s change the atmosphere of our ministries one bold faith-filled prayer at a time.

November 25, 2024

Two Feet on the Floor: The Moment When Your Day Begins

My alarm goes off sometime between 5:00 and 5:30 AM. The house is still, the world outside feels quiet, and for a brief moment, I consider staying under the covers. But then I remember: this is when it all starts. My mornings aren’t just the beginning of the day—they’re the foundation.

I’ve learned that how I use these early hours impacts everything else. It affects how I lead in ministry, how I show up for my family, and, most importantly, how I connect with God. So, when my two feet hit the floor, it’s go time.

Here’s how my morning routine helps me stay grounded, connected, and ready to take on the day.

Step 1: Breakfast and Connection

The first thing I do is head to the kitchen to make breakfast. It’s not just about food—it’s about setting the tone for my family before the day pulls us in different directions. My youngest daughter heads off to school early, so I try to make sure she starts her day with something warm and filling.

After breakfast is ready, my wife and I sit down together. This has become one of my favorite parts of the day. In the middle of the morning rush, we create a small pocket of stillness. We connect over coffee, talk about what’s ahead, and take time to pray together.

I’ve realized how easy it is to let the busyness of life crowd out moments like these. But these shared mornings remind us that we’re in this together—not just as parents, but as partners who are anchoring our family in God’s presence.

Step 2: Time with God

After my daughter is off to school and breakfast is done, it’s my time. I make my coffee, grab my Bible, and settle in for about an hour of focused time with God.

I use the One Year Bible for my daily reading. There’s something powerful about walking through Scripture in a structured way—it keeps me grounded in the Word and reminds me of the bigger story I’m part of. Some days, a verse will jump out and speak directly to what I’m walking through. Other days, it’s the simple rhythm of showing up that keeps me connected.

Prayer journaling has also become a key part of my mornings. Writing out my prayers helps me slow down and be honest with God. I’ll lift up specific concerns for my ministry, pray over my family, and seek guidance for decisions I’m facing. It’s also a chance to reflect on the ways God has answered prayers I’ve written before.

This hour isn’t rushed or hurried—it’s sacred. It’s where I recalibrate my heart and remember who I’m serving before I step into the demands of the day.

Step 3: Getting Ready and Planning the Day

Once my time with God is done, I get dressed and review my calendar. This is my moment to shift gears and prepare for what’s ahead.

I glance at my schedule and prioritize the key tasks or meetings that need my attention. Ministry can be unpredictable, so having a clear plan helps me stay focused on what matters most. It’s not just about checking boxes—it’s about making sure I’m stewarding my time well.

From there, I head to the church office, ready to take on whatever the day holds.

Why This Routine Matters

For years, my mornings were chaotic and reactive. I’d hit snooze, rush through breakfast (if I ate at all), and scramble into the day feeling unprepared. But over time, I realized that how I started my morning set the tone for everything else.

Now, my routine gives me a sense of purpose and clarity. Making breakfast isn’t just a chore—it’s a chance to serve my family. Praying with my wife isn’t just a habit—it’s a way to strengthen our relationship and invite God into our day. Spending time in Scripture and prayer isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the foundation of my calling.

For youth pastors, mornings are a gift. They’re a chance to meet with God before meeting with students, to invest in your family before investing in your ministry, and to prepare your heart before the demands of the day come knocking.

So, tomorrow morning, when your alarm goes off, resist the temptation to hit snooze. Swing your feet onto the floor and start with intention. Whether that looks like making breakfast, diving into Scripture, or taking a moment to pray, know that these small choices can have a big impact—not just on your day, but on your life and ministry.

Trust me: when you start your mornings with purpose, you’ll be amazed at how much better you’re able to pour into the people God has called you to serve.

Let’s talk about your morning routine and how we can get your day started off right… schedule a 1on1 coaching session.

October 11, 2024

The Spiritual Life of a Youth Pastor

Three essential daily disciplines of a youth pastor.

Whether you like it or not, the ministry will reflect your spiritual values. I’m pretty sure you don’t want your ministry to be apathetic, lazy and disinterested. I also don’t believe any of us want minister with the “don’t do what I do” principle. Where we stand in front of our students and encourage them to get in the Word daily, and we never do! Or share the gospel with your friends, and we never do. I’m guilty of this! When I started to discipline myself in some essential disciplines is the moment I stood in front of our students with godly confidence declaring God’s presence and activity in their lives, because I experienced it throughout the week. Yes, there are more than 3 spiritual disciplines, but I have found these three to be life giving and keeps me on track in my spiritual life. Here are my thoughts on three different spiritual disciplines I feel are essential for every youth pastor, and I have found to be true.

Daily Bible intake. We have to schedule it. I’m typically up at 5:15am every day. (Even on Saturday & Sunday’s) I’m not saying the way I do it is right, I’ve just learned the value of getting my day started with intention. Get some sleep. (Early risers hate this one) Go to bed at a reasonable time so you can get up to spend time in the Word. My pastor says it this way, “Go to bed on time, so you can get up on time, so you can spend time with God.”

Have a plan. I read through the “One Year Bible” every year. Yes… every year. It’s the foundation of my time with the Lord and then I add other types of devotionals on top of it. Without a plan you may struggle with being consistent.
Daily solitude and prayer. Create margin for prayer whenever you have your quiet time. This goes without saying and majority of us have got this down, but here’s reality. Most pastors spend an average of 4 minutes a day in prayer! Let it not be said of us. I typically close my Bible and spend about 10-15 minutes in silence, solitude and prayer. It’s so life-giving when I shut things down in my heart and head and just listen.

Another idea is to take time each week to walk your student ministry space. Seek the Lord in silence taking some intentional time to ask for His presence to fill the space. I do this every Wednesday morning in preparation for our midweek service. It’s time well spent.
Daily relational check ins. There are some important people in your life who need your attention. Your spouse, your kids, your team, and some of your strategic leaders. These people need you and you need them! These are people you live life with. Whether you text them or hug them, they need to know you’re with them. “As iron sharpens iron..”

The pitfall here is pride. Believing you are “spiritually mature” to miss a day (or two) of Bible intake or skipping out on intentional prayer. After all you’re the pastor of the ministry right? Pride. Standing in front of your students and lying about you overcoming sin, when in reality you haven’t confessed a thing! Pride. Meeting with a parent and encouraging them to get up early and pray over the bedroom doors of their kids (which is a good thing!) and you haven’t even tried to do it with your kids. Pride. There is so much peace when we can encourage our students to live godly lives when we are striving for godliness ourselves.

Your ministry doesn’t depend on you… it depends on Jesus! Remove your pride. Fight against fleshly performance and success. Stay humble. Get on your knees daily. Shelter under His wings, letting the Holy Spirit be your guide. The Holy Spirit is not going to speak in your chaos and pride. Stay humble and desperate in your daily disciplines and allow Him to work in your life which in turn will translate in your ministry to your students.

We just need to have the spiritual integrity to lead with the right motives and have a spiritual bent. The only way this can happen in our ministry is through spiritual honesty and integrity. To lead people to Jesus as you pursue Jesus yourself. The spiritual disciplines are essential to spiritual success in your ministry. If the minister goes, so goes the ministry.

Need some advice or someone to pray with? Set up a time to meet with me. I promise to listen, encourage, dust you off and kick you back in! I’d love to come alongside you and talk more about how the spiritual life of the youth pastor impacts the ministry.