Day 4

The Modern-Day Leader Facing a Complex World

Scripture: Psalm 18:18-30, Ephesians 4:12-16

Protection: Lord, we lift up our church pastors and leaders of to-day. When Your people step up into ministry, it is like a giant bull’s-eye is placed on their backs and the enemy would like nothing more than to destroy them before they step into the purpose You have put before them. We pray for Your supernatural protection around them and their families, physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, in everything they do and everywhere they go.

Support: We pray that You surround them with people who will encourage and support them to remember what Your word says in Isaiah 41:10: ‘that You are with them, You will strengthen them, You will help them and You will uphold them with Your righteous right hand.’ We also pray that You surround them with leaders who will speak into their lives and help them to be accountable: not falling into the traps of the enemy; but “guarding their hearts” as Proverbs 4:23 says, “for everything they do flows from it.”

Wisdom for leadership: We pray that Your leaders would have Your wisdom in how they lead. The first person they have to lead properly is themselves, so we pray that every leader would submit themselves first to Your leadership, God, and Your wisdom on how to lead. Then, as they lead others, we pray that they would do so from a place of humility, honesty and love of God. We, as leaders, ask for Your forgiveness in the areas of pride, dishonesty and when we did not walk in love. We pray that if we or other leaders have allowed these things to come between You and our leadership that Your sovereign hand would convict us and challenge us to turn from our sins and come into submission under You. We pray that as every leader is forgiven and cleansed that they would be refreshed and protected from falling into the trap of becoming as Galatians 6:9 says “weary in well doing” and, thus, not fulfilling Your purpose for their lives.

Leading like Jesus did: We pray that all leaders would have a renewed focus of leading in the method like Jesus did. In John 13:13-17 He says, “I have set for you an example that you should do as I have.” Regarding loving people and having compassion for those outside the church in a complex and constantly changing world, we pray that each leader would look to Jesus’ example with those out-side of His circle. When considering the challenges that are before our leaders, we pray they would apply Jesus’ messages of love as in His parable of the Good Samaritan, and also in how He interacted with the Samaritan woman at the well. We pray that His life of love is what we would seek to emulate.

Humility: In all of this we pray that our leaders would lead us with sacrificial humility as Jesus did. Just as Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in John 10:42-45 we pray that our leaders take His attitude of servant leadership.

Vision to prepare the people for the ministry: We pray that they would look intently at Your Son’s example with the disciples. Give our leaders Your ideas on how to raise and prepare people for the ministry work that is set before each of them; burn Your vision and passion for the world, into our hearts. The harvest fields are white. We cry out to You, the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers. Lord, remove the hindrances and fears that have limited believers and the church’s vision for the people on the other side of our walls. Birth in each of us a love for them. Help us reach them. Give the Church a vision to bring in the harvest and give the world a vision to come in seeking You. Bring that wall down. Release Your love into our communities. Help us raise up new and motivated leaders who have vision according to Your will. Let the Body of Christ – each member – develop a vision of sharing Your love. Equip them to give an answer of the hope that lives within them. Help them lead people to Your throne of grace. Let them be equipped with an Ephesians 4:11 mentality of “Team Ministry”. Let each one grow to their full potential calling in You, serving You, serving one another in love, and serving our community. Let us be authors and finishers in the faith, persevering with endurance and patience.

Lord, we thank You for our leaders and we pray for Your blessings in their lives. We pray that as they navigate one of the most complex leadership roles they will ever step into, that You will be their provider in every area. Bless them in all their ways as they sacrifice, set an example, live out a life of compassion and do it while consistently laying their lives down before You in humility. In Jesus Name, Amen