How Should Leaders Pray for Their People?

Prayer is a tremendous spiritual discipline for leaders. It is a fundamental practice for abiding and growing as a Christian. Imagine being married, yet never talking with your spouse. Or being a CEO and yet never communicating with the Board of Directors. Lack of communication destroys the relationship. Likewise, lack of prayer makes a relationship with God difficult. But an abundance of prayer can literally “move mountains” (Matthew 17:20). Prayer is powerful!

In the Bible, God gives us many instructions and examples concerning our relationship with Him, and our relationships with one another. Prayer is a tool to grow both kinds of relations. As a leader, think about how you might pray for those in your sphere of influence. Certainly, if there is a specific need, you might pray for physical healing. Or you might pray about a person’s personal crisis. Have you thought about how you might pray for people you just meet along the way? If there is a spiritual component to every daily connection you make, how might you ask God to “move mountains” through ongoing prayer for everyday people?

Pray for God’s work to be accomplished. A faith-centered leader is being engaged by God in His work every day. The leader is constantly being given opportunities to minister to others. An act of kindness, words of wisdom, mentoring at work, partnering on a project, a social occasion—God may use any-and-all of these to accomplish His purposes through the leader’s life. A tremendous prayer that God will certainly answer in the affirmative is “God, use me for Your work today.”

We are created by God so that He can live in us and work through us. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” This is not a verse designed to help us through the fourth quarter of a football game or the marathon study hall the night before a test. Paul is writing about living through times of plenty and little, hardship and comfort, hunger and satisfaction. In this Paul is saying that God’s provision is enough for Him to accomplish His purposes regardless of the situation. Our view as leaders should be that God is providing our relationships and each interaction and situation in order to work through us for His purposes. So pray, “God, whoever I connect with today, use these interactions for Your glory!”

Pray for gospel opportunities. Every relationship for the faith-centered leader is an opportunity to share the gospel. When Jesus called His disciples in Matthew 4:19, He commanded, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Notice the imperative—I will make you. When we follow Christ sincerely, He will give us openings to share our faith with those in our sphere of influence. This is not a maybe, it is a statement of fact.

Think of your workday and the challenges you face, the questions that arise, the conflict that raises itself. Each of these is an opening to talk about matters of faith. A leader is often in a perfect position to declare how faith is the center of their own life without being pushy or offensive. Example: “When I look at this kind of challenge, my first thought is to pray and ask God how we might best solve the problem. What about you?” So pray, “God, allow me to use today’s challenges, conflicts and questions to begin gospel-centered conversations.”

Pray for more strands in the cord. Nothing adds to a faith-centered leader’s impact like other faith-centered individuals surrounding him. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” When like-minded Christians are together, their common beliefs and values help them to live out their faith among those who don’t share their views. A leader who is in a faith-hostile environment can pray for connections with other believers.

Fellow Christians in the workplace can bring unity to your team. You can also practice servant leadership together, embodying Christ’s servant-heartedness with those in your sphere of influence. And you can communicate more positively and clearly. Remember Ephesians 4:29: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what helps build others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” So pray, “God, bring other Christians around me to mind, and allow us to work together for the good of our organization and for Your glory.”