Biblical Leadership: How to Pray, What to Pray ForSample

Introduction: Prayer & Leadership

As a leader, people expect more from you. To make the difficult decisions, to set the right direction, and lead them to success. Others are counting on you, and your education, experience & track record have prepared you for this time. 

The very reasons people trust you to lead them also gives you confidence. But even so, sometimes things get beyond what you can see, past what you know, and out of your comfort zone. But, in those times, you know you can still reach out to God for help. 

That’s both right and wrong. 

God wants to guide you in your leadership, and even to bless you in that. So, it’s right for you to come before Him in prayer, with any and every request. Prayer is foundational to a relationship with God, and a relationship is what God values – even more than your leadership success!

Of course, coming to God in prayer is the premier way to seek His help. Although coming to God with requests for leadership help is right, doing only that misses the relationship-building that God so greatly desires. And so your prayer needs to be more than just asking for help.

In these readings, we provide guidance for your prayers as a leader, outlining a 4-part structure to make them more effective for you, and more pleasing to God. Prayer is your private two-way communication channel with God, and needs to be right for both of you.

In addition to a suggestion for structure, we also offer insight into what to pray for as a leader, and when to pray. Lastly, we check in with Jesus to see how the Lord’s Prayer applies to your leadership as well, and how to use that as a good starting point for renewed prayer effort.

All through the readings, we draw on teachings and examples from the Bible, knowing that God’s Word has much to say to us, even today.

Let’s close this first reading by looking at some great leaders in the Bible, checking what we might learn from their prayers:

Starting with David, who fell majorly short in his lustful affair and murderous cover-up, God still responded to his many psalms and prayers with blessing for entire the nation of Israel. (2 Samuel 11, 2 Samuel 22)

Then, David’s son Solomon became the wealthiest king ever, because he asked God for wisdom in ruling God’s people, and not for wealth, career success or even long life. (2 Chronicles 1)

Or remember Daniel? Captured by the Babylonians and placed in their management training program, he prayed three times a day, all the way up to his Chief Operating Officer position over the entire land. (Daniel 6)

And what about Nehemiah? Working as a poison tester (wine taster) for a foreign king, his prayer before requesting release to go rebuild Jerusalem is a classic for the ages. (Nehemiah 1)

The list is much longer, but let’s close with Jesus, who prayed for wisdom, guidance and that God’s will be done, even though He was God’s son and it would cost His life.

Does prayer have a place in your leadership? Of course it does! Against this background of leaders gone before us, let’s review a structure to make your prayers as effective as possible… 

Reflection / Application

1. Is prayer as a valuable tool in your leadership toolkit? How often do you use it?
2. When you pray, is it more about building relationship with God or laying your requests before Him? Which is more important? Why?
3. “In leadership, you lead others. In prayer, God wants to lead you.” Is that true, and why would we say that?