John, a leader in a church I
assisted as a consultant, admitted to me what I’d heard before from seminary
students and church leaders alike: “Dr. Lawless, I don’t always pray like I
should. I know better, but prayer isn’t easy.” I’ve heard something similar so
many times that I’ve begun asking for more details. These findings are
anecdotal, but here are my general conclusions about why church leaders
struggle with prayer.
- Leaders are “fixers” by nature. Most leaders don’t readily admit a need for help. Instead, we are problem solvers who seek solutions, attempt answers, and try again if the first answer doesn’t work. Indeed, our followers expect leaders to come up with solutions. Our persistence and tenacity to do so – both good traits in themselves – sometimes push prayer to a last resort option.
- We never learned how to pray. Churches make this mistake with most spiritual disciplines: we tell believers what to do, but don’t teach them how to do it. “Pray. Pray. You must pray,” we proclaim. When we tell but don’t teach, though, we set believers up for discouragement and failure. If leaders are honest, we’ll admit that we, too, have much to learn about how to pray.
- Prayer has become more about ritual than about relationship. This reason relates directly to the previous one. We know we should pray, even if we don’t know how, so we go through the motions of prayer. It is not a relationship with a living Lord that calls us to prayer; it is instead only religious ritual. Ritual seldom leads to a consistent, vibrant prayer life.
- Prayerlessness can be hidden. No one in our church needs to know about this struggle. We can talk about prayer, teach about prayer, write about prayer, and even lead corporately in prayer – all without anyone knowing that personal prayer is sporadic at best. This kind of hiddenness is an enemy of heartfelt prayer.
- We don’t really believe prayer works. Sure, we teach otherwise about prayer. No church leader I know would teach that prayer is ineffective. Nevertheless, our prayer life often suggests otherwise. Sometimes we don’t pray at all. When we do pray, we’re too often surprised when God does respond. Surprise is one indicator we’re not convinced about the power of prayer.
- We have never been broken under God’s hand. The apostle Paul, who was a leader extraordinaire, learned the power of strength in weakness (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Faced with a thorn in the flesh, he pleaded with God to remove it. God instead sovereignly used the thorn to weaken the apostle, who experienced God’s strength at his weakest moments. It is in our weakness that we learn how to pray, but leaders naturally fight against weakness.
- Leaders read the Word in a one-sided way. Leaders are often teachers who read the Word for information transmission more than life transformation. When we approach the Word that way, we miss the opportunity to be in dialogue with God. Our Bible reading – even when preparing for teaching or preaching – should bring us to praise, confession, and obedience. It should lead us into prayerful conversation with God.
- Some leaders have simply lost hope. It happens. Church leaders who prayed more consistently in the past sometimes lose hope under the weight of church conflict, family struggles or health concerns. Unanswered prayer leads to faithlessness, which leads to prayerlessness.
- We miss the gospel focus on the prayer life of Jesus. I love the four Gospels, but I admit to reading them for many years without meditating on Jesus’ prayer life. A seminary professor challenged me to read the Gospel of Luke with this focus in mind, and my prayer life has never been the same.
In fact, church leader, I give you
that same challenge. In your quiet time this week, read these texts. Note how
Jesus prayed. Listen to His teachings. Think deeply about the Word. Then,
respond to Him in prayer. Take the first step toward being a praying church
leader.
Luke 3:21-22; 4:42 (cf. Mark 1:35);
5:15-16; 6:12-13; 6:27-28; 9:16, 18, 28-29; 10:1-2, 21; 11:1-13; 18:1-8, 9-14;
19:45-46; 20:45-47; 21:36; 22:17-19, 31-32, 39-46; 23:33-34, 46; 24:30, 50-51.
THINGS YOU MIGHT BE
INTERESTED IN ….
FOR STAFF
LEADERSHIP: Time Management by
Jim Baker (a Ministry Grid training video) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/time-management/#.UiY3aKzAHTo
FOR DISCIPLESHIP:
Fast Track: Through the Bible in Eight Weeks for Kids, Students, and Adults - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Fast-Track:-Genesis-to-Revelation?emid=PD-Product-BSI-FastTrack-20130731
FOR DISCIPLESHIP:
Authentic:
Developing the Disciplines of a Sincere Faith by James McDonald - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/authentic-developing-the-disciplines-of-a-sincere-faith-leader-kit-P005399891
FOR DISCIPLESHIP:
This Changes Everything:
Lessons from James by Ben Stuart - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/this-changes-everything-lessons-from-james-leader-kit-P005560878
FOR CHILDREN’S
MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Conference,
October 7-10, Nashville, TN – for children’s ministry leaders, both paid and
volunteer - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/LifeWay-Kid%27s-Ministry-Conference?type=events&intcmp=KidsMinistryConferenceSearch-Button-KidsMinistryConference-20130426
FOR CHILDREN’S
MINISTRY: 8 Approaches to How Kids Learn by Melita Thomas (a Ministry Grid training video) -
http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/8-approaches-to-how-kids-learn/#.UiY206zAHTo
FOR STUDENT
MINISTRY: Center Your Student Ministry on the Gospel by Jason Gaston (a Ministry Grid
training video) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/center-your-student-ministry-on-the-gospel/#.UiY11azAHTo
FOR STUDENT
MINISTRY: Helps and Resources for Planning Your Next D’Now - http://www.lifeway.com/n/merchandised-landing-page/DiscipleNow?intcmp=LifeWayStudents-MTX-Text-Dnow-20120906
FOR STUDENT
MINISTRY: Small Group Discipleship studies - http://www.lifeway.com/Discipleship-Groups/Youth/c/N-1z13x25Z1z141rsZ1z141ym?emid=Student-BibleStudies-20130806
FOR WOMEN’S
MINISTRY: Sacred Secrets by
Beth Moore - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Sacred-Secrets:-A-Living-Proof-Live-Experience?intcmp=LWMain-Hero2-SacredSecrets-20130805
FOR WOMEN’S
MINISTRY: Living Proof Live Simulcast
with Beth Moore, September 14 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Living-Proof-Live-Simulcast?type=events&emid=PD-Event-BSI-LPLSimulcast-20130826
MARRIAGE
ENRICHMENT: Marriage Getaways
- http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Marriage-Getaways?type=events
