A leader’s most effective tool may be prayer.
For the Christian leader, especially, prayer should be critical to how we lead. I’m 54 and I’ve not mastered this yet – even though I know how powerful prayer is for the believer. Our leader, Jesus was always walking in prayer with the Father.
Jesus said I do nothing except what the Father tells me to do. So, when Jesus needed to feed the multitudes, he lifted up the bread and fish and prayed. Just before Jesus was about to be crucified – At the weakest point in His life we find Him praying.
Why? Because prayer taps into that relationship with God.
The power in prayer is not in the process of prayer, but the Person of prayer. Prayer takes us into the very Throne Room of God. Talk about power!
So, as Christian leaders, we need to pray. I thought with this post I might spur that in each of us by offering some good prayers for leaders to pray.
Here are 10 good prayers of a Christian leader:
Dear Lord, grow my love for you so I will trust in You when I can’t see the path ahead clearly. Help me to trust in You, more than I trust in my abilities.
Dear Lord, help me not to say yes when no is the right answer. Help me balance my time to be most effective and to accomplish Your will more than the will of others.
Dear Lord, never allow my plan to get ahead of – or in the place of – Your plan. Remind me frequently that Your way is best and I will always be most successful when I wait for You.
Dear Lord, allow me to forgive easily, hold no grudges or bitterness, and live in and extend to others the grace You have provided to me. Never let me get so proud or arrogant that I forget I am nothing apart from Your hand upon my life.
Dear Lord, provide me with courage and conviction to face my fears and critics and lead people to bigger realities of Your will than today. Give me the courage of Gideon, the steadfastness of Nehemiah, and the boldness of Daniel.
Dear Lord, grant me wisdom to make decisions big and small and conviction to follow You when it contradicts my desires or the demands of others. Give me discernment and surround me with wise people who follow You and can speak into my life.
Dear Lord, help me guard my heart , overcome temptation, and keep my character and reputation above reproach. Build around me people who believe in me, know me, and are willing to speak hard truths into my life.
Dear Lord, give me patience with people, the pace of progress, and with things I can’t understand. Assure me continually that Your plan is always worth waiting for and will be better than anything I can produce on my own.
Dear Lord, help me communicate with clarity, consistency, and competence. Guard my tongue and keep me from reckless words. Make me an encourager and a builder of people with the things I say.
Dear Lord, help me to love people and use my influence for the good of others. Allow me to see my life’s mission as bigger than today. Help me leave a legacy, which brings glory to You.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Love the prayers! Thanks for sharing and God bless!
I love these prayers, Ron. As a Christian leader, I am adding them into my daily prayer time immediately. Thanks for taking the time to post them.
Me too!!
Amen. Oh Lord guide all leaders to be effective in your vineyard especially in these times when temptations arise from all corners.
Amen.
Oh Lord remember our leaders especially in these end times when temptation is much. may they find solace in you.
Ron, thanks. This was a great reminder this morning. I’m new to consistently blogging my thoughts and sharing things with people. It helps to be reminded of Gods work in all of this.
Great prayer to come back to.
Thank you so much Art.
Very amazing. Thank you for sharing this ideals.
"Dear Lord, may no one in my church ever respect me higher than the level of respect I receive from my wife and kids." This is my prayer to be an effective pastor. Thank you for this post, Ron. God Bless!
Wow! This is a great one! Thanks!