Transcript
Scott Anderson: Paul, for those who might read this book and for those who might watch these videos, I just wonder if you might just lead us in a prayer for those folks.
Let's Pray
Paul Tripp: I'd be very honored to do that. Let's pray.
Lord, we are so very, very thankful that because of the person and work of the Lord Jesus, we do not have to be afraid of anything we just talked about. I know that there will be people who will read the Dangerous Calling[: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry] book, people who will watch this material and who are afraid, afraid of admitting to themselves their own struggle, afraid of admitting that to someone else, afraid of breaking the code of silence.
And, Lord, I pray that by Your Spirit, You would release all of us from that fear. May we be that community that is profoundly sad and gloriously hopeful at the same time. And I pray for all of those who are carrying the burden of ministry that they would understand that it was God's plan that everyone in ministry would be, at the same time, be a person in the midst of their own sanctification. That's not a mistake. That's God's plan. It's not in the way of God's plan. It is His plan.
A Prayer That Pastors Would Come Out of Hiding
And that with confidence, they would come out of the hiding, they would run to Your throne of grace, that they would find the help in the body of Christ that they need. And my prayer is that in ten thousand places, in days and weeks and months to come, people in ministry would say, "God [has] met me. God has opened my heart. God has grown me. God has rescued me. God has done a good thing."
It's right for us to say that we love You, but we would confess that the greatest, fullest, deepest joy of our lives is that we've been loved by You. May that love continue to leave us in awe, an awe that shapes the way we think about ourselves and an awe that forms the way we think about ministry. We pray all these things for the sake of Your children, for the strengthening of Your church, for the progress of Your kingdom and, ultimately, for the sound of Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen.
