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Rediscovering the Power of Prayer
December 2, 2024
My prayer life as a leader has had its ups and downs. There are times when:
- I've prayed timidly, which is surprising because I am not a timid person.
- I've prayed feeling unworthy, even though I know in my heart that I am worthy to approach the throne of grace with boldness. Sometimes I wonder, "Who am I to ask for this?"
- I've prayed burdened, feeling the weight of the world's troubles and wondering if my personal requests are even valid.
As we kick off a new year and launch our 30 Days of Prayer, I'm curious what your prayer life is like. Are you praying timidly, unworthily, or burdened? Or, are you praying with power, expectancy, and delight?
And the harder question: Are you praying for your leadership, at work, or even in the midst of your work?
Lately, I've realized that the most powerful leaders in Scripture were devoted to prayer. Hannah, from 1 Samuel 1 is a prime example.
Hannah knew:
- The anguish of infertility.
- The pain of a broken heart
- The shame that comes with a body that does not cooperate with your deepest hopes.
- The mistreatment of a family member.
- The impact weak spiritual leadership could have in her country.
- The isolation of suffering in a society driven by evil.
- The feelings of worthless in a culture that didn’t value her.
- The confusion of prayers seemingly going unanswered.
And yet, Hannah knew how to bring all her struggles to God in prayer.
Hannah's Prayer
“My horn is lifted up by the Lord. My mouth boasts over my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation.”
Hannah experienced God’s victory.
“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no rock like our God.”
Hannah recognized God’s unparalleled holiness.
"Do not boast so proudly or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge."
Hannah understood that God’s wisdom surpasses any human understanding.
“The bows of the warriors are broken, but the feeble are clothed with strength.”
Hannah experienced God’s protection.
“The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth; He humbles and He exalts.”
Hannah knew it is God who raises the poor and is not bound by economic forecasts or budgets.
“Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered. He will thunder in the heavens against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth and He will give power to His king.”
Hannah recognized it was at the top of the organizational chart of her life, ruling with kindness and love.
Hannah did not wait to have it all together before coming to God. She approached Him with her whole self, and in that, she found the power of prayer: experiencing God's character.
As we prioritize prayer in our leadership, I am reminded that:
- Christ is available to us at all times. Unlike a licensed professional counselor with limited availability, God is accessible 24/7. Even after following Jesus for 30 years and dedicating my life to teaching the Bible, I still sometimes look around for someone to text or call when work gets hard—only to remember that Jesus is always available.
- Christ is aware of our needs, even the ones we struggle to put into words. He is acquainted with our sufferings and does not merely pat us on the back. He comes to us in our pain and walks with us, having suffered on the cross Himself.
- Christ is always approachable. While we are often told that moving up in leadership means becoming less approachable, Jesus, at the very top, remains welcoming to sinners like us.
At Integrus Leadership, where I serve as the Marketing Director, I see this lived out every day. It is a privilege to work with fellow Christians who place prayer at the forefront. We pray first, whether it’s at the beginning of a meeting or for our partners by name.
So, I challenge you today: Are you praying at work, for work, in your work? Because prayer isn’t just a personal practice—it’s a powerful foundation for every part of our lives.
We hope you join us for our 30 Days of Prayer with
the free prayer guide and our videos on social media.
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