If you’re a leader, we need you to take time to pray.
We don’t want you to be frantic. We are counting on you to be full of faith and live out your convictions. We need you to think, then lead with a heart filled with courage.
Recently I was on a long trip that happened to come on the heels of another very full week. While skyping with my wife, I told her that I felt thin. ‘Thin’ describes the feeling I get when I realize I’m just skimming across the surface of people’s issues, not really being present or digging deeper. Compassion for people gives way to cynicism about problems. It’s a signal to me that I need to slow down, pray, and invite the Spirit of the living Christ to support the gravity of life’s daily drama.
When you are hurried and rushed, you become a frantic leader. We need you to be a prayerful leader, not just a productive leader. The truth – as you well know – is that the only way to bear fruit is to abide in Jesus. Apart from him you can do nothing.
In addition to regular daily prayer times, I try to make a habit of taking one early morning each week to rise one hour earlier. I keep a running list of the craziest problems I face and pour my heart out to God. On those weeks I don’t feel thin; rather I feel grounded, lighter, and eager to play my role in God’s story.
How do you cultivate the practice of prayerful leadership?
9 replies on “Pray!”
The first time I’ve ever not wanted to be thin! Thanks for timely encouragement, Ken!
Ken, GREAT post. Thanks!
Sometimes I work a lot but only a few hours of prayer. What happens is I seem productive but my spirituality is decreasing. And what happens in the long term productivity was also eventually dropped. I am aware of it and began to pray at night before bed and in the morning before starting the activity. What I experienced was, my leadership productivity grow along with my spirituality.
Thank you for continuing to remind and help the essence of things as a leader!
Thanks for the encouragement Ken! You just became another in a series of ways God has been speaking to me on a theme in the last couple weeks. 🙂
Funny how our hearts tend to go after the ‘unconquered lands’
than yearn for those ‘unhurried times’ with God.
Funny how our hearts tend to go after the ‘unconquered lands’
than yearn for those ‘unhurried times’ with God
Thanks Ken for the reminder! Really good stuff and a constant challenge!
Good advice! Thanks for sharing Ken!
Great reminder. A leader who prays and connects with God will all ways be effective and produce results.