What do you believe is the most important thing you can do as a leader?
It is not an exaggeration to say your answer to this question will determine the ultimate effectiveness of your ministry to men.
I am very grateful for the lessons I’ve learned from some of the most gifted men you can imagine. Without fail, they all have told me that prayer is the foundation and the fuel every leader requires if they are going to have a fruitful ministry to men.
The first four books of the New Testament recount the story of the life of Jesus. As you read His story, you can see a rhythm of life being practiced.
Without fail, they all have told me that prayer is the foundation and the fuel every leader requires if they are going to have a fruitful ministry to men.
For example, in Luke 5:15-16, you see the crush of ministry demands as “large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.” You can only imagine the excitement and the exhaustion during this season of ministry!
But then, Luke says this:
“He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed” (v.16).
Jesus, the Son of God and only perfect ministry leader in human history, would “often withdraw” from ministry to pray.
Why?
Because “the Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing” (John 5:19). Jesus prayed to maintain His relationship with the Father and receive everything He would need to do His ministry on earth.
If Jesus needed to pray, how much more do you and I need to ensure that prayer is the most important part of our lives and ministries?
Here are the top areas of prayer to focus on as a leader:
Pray for the state of your soul (John 15:1-17).
Every men’s ministry leader must let Jesus’ words sink deep into their hearts: “You can do nothing without me” (John 15:5).
This is a humbling and also life-giving reality. You can have a busy calendar and still accomplish nothing, or you can abide in Christ and have your life increasingly bring about more fruit.
The most critical work in ministry you will ever do is to abide in Jesus personally. Prayer allows you to rest in God’s love for you and invites you to fellowship with Him.
Pray to be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
For your ministry work to be fruitful, it has to be led by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:25 teaches us to “keep in step with the Spirit.” If you try to run ahead of what God wants to do or if you fall behind, then it is impossible to expect God to bless any of your plans.
Ask God to give you wisdom, help you see the needs of the men you are serving, and give you an idea of what He wants you to accomplish in the next season of ministry.
As you pray, take the time to listen and pay attention. How God answers this prayer will shape your ministry’s dreams and plans.
Pray for spiritual fruit more than logistics or numbers (Ephesians 1:18-19).
Whether praying alone or with other leaders, pay attention to what is usually prayed for. In my experience, we frequently fall into the trap of praying for our plans to succeed, for the logistics to come together, and for the attendance to be what we hope for.
In ministry, the bottom line is that those are not the most important things.
Always pray for what is most important. For example, in Ephesians 1, Paul prays for the Ephesian Christians to have the eyes of their hearts enlightened, know the hope of His calling, know the wealth of His glorious inheritance, and understand the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Wow!
That’s a very specific prayer for what Paul is asking God to do in every person’s life.
When making your ministry plans, start by asking the question: What do we believe God wants to do in the lives of men who will be part of this? What is the end goal?
Then, pray for God to do that work.
Surrender your plans to God (James 4:13-15).
Prayer is an opportunity to rest in your heart while still being productive in your life.
It’s good to make plans and to work to execute those plans, but too often, our own hearts rise and fall based on the “success” of the work we do.
If God has been leading you in the planning, then surrendering your plans to God is a reminder that you are not God and that the only thing in ministry that matters is for God’s will to be done.
Prayer can never be an afterthought if you want a fruitful ministry. It is the one step to take before, during, and after anything you do in ministry to men.
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