Leaders and Prayer
Someone has said, “Prayer is one of the most talked about and least practiced disciplines of the Christian life.” As Kingdom leaders we must be praying about the mission and the people on a very regular basis. I find for my own leadership that it is easy to be busy with the work of the responsibility and neglect this foundation. If we are not careful to prayerfully lay this foundation for our leadership we can find ourselves building upon the sand instead of the Rock.
O. Hallesby in his wonderful classic simply titled Prayer says this (p. 81),
“One of the things that the Spirit must teach us about prayer as work is this: to learn to take time to pray.
All work takes time. When it becomes clear to us that prayer is part of our daily program of work, it will also become clear to us that we must arrange our daily program in such a way that there is time also for this work, just as we set aside time for other necessary things, such as eating and dressing.”
Time is one of a leader’s most precious commodities. It is in short supply and demands often far exceed the time available. Prayer can seem to be an addendum to the day’s work, if time is found for it, rather than the primary work to be done today. Even in writing this I am saddened by the thought of my own inconsistency in this area. May I/we all be more faithful to do this essential work each day.
Charles Spurgeon adds this in his work, The Secret Power of Prayer,
“The best praying man is the man who is most believingly familiar with the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God’s promises to Him and saying, ‘Do as You have said.’ Prayer is the promise utilized. Prayer not based on a promise has no true foundation.” (p. 41)
The work of prayer for our leadership should flow from the Scriptural promises God has given us. These promises can be prayed back to Him in faith as we trust Him for on-going influence. These promises prayed over give a sense of destiny and hope for the future outcomes of our life’s work. As we pray and meditate over them the Lord will speak, confirm, and direct us.
Prayer – may we be doers and not just hearers only!
Developing Kingdom Leaders - Tom Yeakley 