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A Preacher's Prayer Occasionally someone comes to me asking questions that pertain to preaching. Often they expect that me being a preacher causes my family and me to think or react differently toward life than everybody else. They are usually wrong. We have the same hopes and dreams everybody else has. Every now and then a question or topic arises that does show a difference in thought between myself and others. But I have never been asked about prayer. In some respects, I pray for what many other fathers, husbands, sons, etc. pray for, yet there may be a couple of differences. I pray to be straight forward about the Gospel. Paul tells Timothy to avoid old wives' tales and dedicate himself to a study of the word of God. We read of this in passages such as 1 Timothy 4.17 and 2 Timothy 2.15. To pervert the Gospel either intentionally or unintentionally will cause me and anyone who believes me to be lost. It is easy to think of popularity and job security as of first importance. Some teachers will not rebuke or reprove the brethren for sin, because it is easier to look the other way. In this area, I do understand the temptation and pray for the strength to always preach the whole truth whether popular or not. "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Timothy 4.2). I pray for wisdom and understanding. The Bible plainly distinguishes between the two. As stated in Colossians 1.9, "We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Dealing with people takes skill, tact, determination, patience, and love. In many cases we are talking about souls that will be lost and I pray for the knowledge for the right answers and wisdom to know how to say it. I pray to know when to rebuke, reprove, and to exhort. I pray to be a good husband. As in most marriages, it is easy to give your spouse the short end of the stick. I hope I will always show the respect and attention due to Regena. "You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered" (1 Peter 3.7). Finally, I pray to be a good father to Eli, Hope, and Noah. I pray that each child does not learn to despise their father. They will unfortunately be treated as "the preachers’ children" by some of the brethren. Already Eli has been asked if he is going to be a preacher. Should that not be a prayer of every parent? After talking to a number of preachers and their children, it is obvious that many are turned off to religion due to their father being a preacher. Not because of their fathers, but because of the attitude of others. I pray that Regena and I will rear Eli, Hope, and Noah with the desire to become and to fulfill the responsibilities of a faithful Christian. -- Dennis Tucker ( The above article was written a number of years ago, (February 7, 1993), to be precise. We have made a number of moves since then. Brethren have been good to us and we have enjoyed getting to know most of them. Of course there have been a few soreheads but they have been the minority and not the majority. It has been a blessing to see our children grow up. Each has obeyed the Gospel and are faithful to the Lord. The challenges we have faced have made them stronger. I would add that I pray that the challenges I face will not make me cynical or indifferent to the truth and the souls of people. --D.T.)
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