Chapter 14 (The Habit of Practicing Prayer) in “Lead Like Jesus” by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges and Phyllis Hendry is on point with insights for us. Here are the first two paragraphs of that chapter:
“Solitude may be the most elusive of the five Being Habits for us to develop, but prayer is the habit that requires the most unlearning and revising of old patterns and ways. So maybe it is no real surprise that, of all things the disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them, their only request recorded in Scripture is “Teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). The disciples saw the power that came when Jesus prayed, and they longed for their prayers to yield the same kind of results. But – as the disciples needed to learn – prayer is not a technique; it is simply a conversation with God.
Prayer is also an essential act of the will that demonstrates whether we are really serious about living and leading like Jesus. Without prayer, we will never be able to either connect our plans and leadership efforts to God’s plan for His kingdom or engage the spiritual resources that Jesus promised when He sent His Holy Spirit. Seeking God’s will through prayer, waiting in faith for an answer, obeying His instruction when it comes, and being at peace with the outcome will make your leadership a lot like Jesus.”
Luke 11:1 (NIV) One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Oswald Chambers wrote, “If you will swing the door of your life fully open and pray to your Father, who is in the secret place, every public thing in your life will be marked with the lasting imprint of the presence of God.”
Men – my prayer for us today is that we fully welcome the Holy Spirit’s power into our hearts to transform our minute by minute conversations with Abba Father. Don’t get hung up on the past, on tradition, on things around us. Let’s get real & stay surrendered with Abba.
