The obvious answer to most of life is “pray.” Yet we can get so caught up in ministry, we need a reminder to “do your first works over again” and go back to where we started in ministry.
When I was a young pastor, I thought strategy alone could grow my church. Exhausted and stuck, I hit a wall. That’s when I rediscovered prayer as the fuel for ministry, like high-octane gas in a race car.
Prayer aligns me with God’s purpose and powers my work.
Let me share how prevailing prayer can unlock spiritual momentum for your church. Early in my walk with Christ, I journaled prayers, pouring out gratitude, fears, and dreams. Those moments, often with worship music, kept me grounded.
At my church called ShireLive, prayer fueled our vision—I’d spend hours seeking God’s heart, praying 1 John 3:1–3. That intimacy shaped my leadership and sparked growth.
History shows every revival, from Azusa Street to Wales, started with prayer.
Without prayer, even the best systems stall—I’ve seen churches with slick programs but no power because they skipped it. Prayer crafts your heart for God’s agenda, preparing you for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20).
Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from me, you can do nothing,” and I’ve found that true. To make prayer central, I schedule 30 minutes each morning, often at 5 a.m., to pray and worship. I use Scriptures like Psalm 23 or Ephesians 3:16–19 to stay focused on God’s promises. At my church, we held monthly prayer nights, uniting our church for revival.
I journal insights during prayer, like my vision for Leaderscape, to track God’s voice. When I coached an Ohio church, we started with prayer, and their attendance grew from 200 to 400 in a year, with small groups doubling. Prayer aligned their leaders and ignited passion.
Distractions or busyness can make prayer hard, but I start small—five minutes, focusing on God’s love—and use worship music to refocus.
Pastor, prayer is your fuel. Start this week with 15 minutes daily, praying over one growth goal. Invite your team to a prayer night. Watch God unlock momentum as you seek Him first.
This article is derived from the book XLR8 by Michael Murphy. Click here for your free copy.
