Step 2: Pray

The Bible is important, but time in prayer with God is what really clarifies His will for your life and leadership.

Prayer is important because it is a personal two-way communication channel between you and God. It is the most important tool of any Christian leader, bringing clarity and wisdom where you otherwise might flounder. Remember this verse?

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. — James 1:5

But how to pray? And what to pray for?

God wants a relationship with you, so prayer is not just about solving problems! And, as you deepen your relationship with God through prayer, it becomes easier and easier to know His will for your life and your leadership.

So how to pray? In the spirit of practical guidance—and definitely not as the only way—we offer the following structure, which has been used by many leaders and saints through the ages: A-C-T-S. We introduce the concept here, and—because of the importance of prayer—we will dig deeper in the next section.

A: Adoration

Entering your prayer time resembles entering a holy place, so it makes sense to first assume a posture of reverence and humility. After all, you are the created one and God is your Creator. You are mortal, finite, and limited; God is immortal, infinite, and unlimited.

So it makes sense to humble yourself, to place your time and talents at God’s disposal—from both your personal and work life. Start by giving everything over to Him, in worship and thanksgiving.

For some help getting started, read and reread how David led his people in prayer—a small portion of which is given here:

“Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. … Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” — 1 Chronicles 29:10…13

C: Confession

Once you’ve completed a period of adoration for your great God, examine yourself and consider how you may have fallen short of God’s plan.

Confession is your way of saying sorry, a way of healing the brokenness that you’ve introduced into the relationship.

Not sure about that? Then look at what the Bible says about the importance of confessing your sins:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us … If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. — 1 John 1:9-10

T: Thankfulness

After reflecting on how great God is, and how much God has given you—family, health, work, and so much more—it’s hard not to be thankful.

Even so, the Devil wants you to think that you are missing out, how it’s not fair, and how you deserve more. Flee from that! Focus instead on what God has already given; stay close to Him, and do not follow the ways of the world.

Instead, list the blessings you already have, and then, when you run out, ask God to come into your heart and show you more.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. — Philippians 4:6

S: Supplication

After preparing with the first three steps, it is time to pour out your heart and seek God’s help. Even if you don’t know what to say, you may just groan before Him; He already knows your need and is glad to hear from you in whatever form it takes:

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. — Romans 8:26B

During this time, be still before God. Let your thoughts roll around in your head; don’t try to solve any problems, but just enjoy the ideas and peace that God will give.

Afterwards, thank God again, and slowly return to your awakened and refreshed self. You may not have all the answers or have even heard anything, but as you repeatedly come back to God in a time of prayer, He will eventually show you His will, His way, and His plan for your life and leadership.

Prayer: your most powerful tool