Love and Prayer in Ministry

While I am away at a Refresh Retreat, I am reminded that, as we see the events unfold on the news involving Iran, Israel, and our nation, the season is important for many of our spiritual leaders. We should bend the knee often in these hours, whether or not we are practicing Lent. While Lent is not a command in Scripture, many of our sisters and brothers are practicing it. Perhaps even some of you reading this post will be practicing this season for reflection and repentance with much prayer.

Lent is a season of reflection. A time of repentance. Returning to the steady heartbeat of Christ.

For ministry wives, life rarely slows down. You carry many things, burdens in your heart, and the needs of others in your hands. Yet Lent gently whispers: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Before the programs, before the planning, before the expectations, there is prayer. Before the serving, there is love. Agape love. Unconditional love from the Savior to us. This love should motivate us to love others, but most of all to spend time with our Savior as the priority before anything or anyone else.

Jesus, on His way to the cross, consistently withdrew to pray. “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:16). In Gethsemane, facing the weight of the cross, He prayed with surrender: “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Prayer was not an afterthought; it was His lifeline. And if the Son of God made prayer His priority, how much more must we?

For ministry wives, prayer must be our first response, not our last resort. Scripture reminds us, “Continue steadfastly in prayer” (Colossians 4:2) and “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Lent invites us to fast from self-reliance and feast on communion with Him. Instead of carrying every burden alone, we are invited to “cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

And from prayer flows love.

It is easy in ministry to love out of obligation. To love because it is expected. To love because it is needed. But Lent draws us back to the cross, the ultimate display of love: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ did not serve begrudgingly; He loved sacrificially. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16).

When we kneel in prayer, our hearts soften again. We remember we are loved first: “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Only then can we love well. “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).

There was a season early in my ministry life when a person came against my husband so hard that I became angry. The type of anger that made me want to pull away from ministry responsibilities. My husband advised me to pray and ask God to give me His love for the person who had caused the hurt and pain. I didn’t want to pray that prayer, but I did. It went something like this, “God, help me to Loooouuuve this person!” It was a challenge every day, but I did it, and as I did, I began to soften toward and forgive this person. It was as if a spiritual veil lifted from my eyes, and I began to love this person with the love of Christ. I saw this precious one as the Lord saw them. I honestly began to love them as Christ loved me.

Ministry wives often pour and pour and pour. Lent reminds us to pause and receive. Jesus invites the weary, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). As we abide in Him, love becomes the natural overflow: “Abide in me… As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you” (John 15:4, 9).

This season,(whether you are practicing Lent or not) let your priority be simple:

• Sit with Jesus (Luke 10:39).
• Speak honestly in prayer (Hebrews 4:16).
• Let His love refill what ministry drains (Psalm 23:3).

The cross is not only the message we support; it is the love that sustains us.

Prayer:
Lord, during this Lenten season, draw my heart back to You. Teach me to prioritize prayer over performance and your love over obligation. Refill my soul where it feels weary. Let my ministry flow from intimacy with You, for apart from You I can do nothing (John 15:5). Amen.