Praying hands over the BibleGood leaders want to lead by example. Good ministry leaders want to lead by spiritual example. But I have found a great tension in the Christian life. I’m not the spiritual leader that I want to be. I’m probably  not the only person who has ever thought that.

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 7 (NLT), wrote to the believers in Rome of the inner struggle he dealt with in his spiritual journey. Listen to the tension in his life.

 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate…. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do

what is wrong, but I do it anyway…. 

Oh, what a miserable person I am!

Sometimes I feel that way about prayer. I want to pray more, but I don’t. I want to be faithful to pray for people and circumstances, but how much prayer is enough? Tension.

I’ve learned some things by observing godly people. And I always learn from God’s Word and Paul’s letters. Here are some things I have gleaned that help me. Maybe they will help you, too.

First, when I tell someone I will pray for them, I look for opportunity to pray right then. It may be in an office lobby, on the street, or at a store. I ask them if I can pray for them right there, and I have never had anyone turn me down. Then, I can go on with my day knowing I have kept my word to pray for them. If you look for those opportunities, you will be surprised at how many times God opens the door.

Second, I’ve learned my prayer doesn’t always have to be a long prayer. Yes, we need to be willing to spend time…often extended time…with God in prayer. But there are times when a prayer breathed briefly will be appropriate. In the great story of Nehemiah, we see several types of prayer that this man of God uses. In chapter 1, upon learning of the conditions in Jerusalem, Nehemiah prayed for days. Some months later, when the King asked him what was wrong and how he could help, look at what Nehemiah did.

[blockquote author=”Nehamiah 2:4 NLT” link=”” target=”_blank”]

The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”

With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied…

[/blockquote]

That doesn’t sound like a long prayer to me. A brief prayer born out of other extended prayer, no doubt.

Third, Paul often wrote to his Christian friends,

[blockquote author=”Philippians 1:3 NLT” link=”” target=”_blank”]I thank my God upon every remembrance of you….[/blockquote]

That tells me that as God brought people to mind, Paul prayed for them with thanksgiving. Not every day. Not all the time. But as often as the Holy Spirit presented people to Paul’s spirit, he took that opportunity to pray.

Yes, the tensions of leadership are real. Yet they can be healthy if they drive us toward the mark, the standard that the Lord has set for us. But don’t let Satan beat you up if/when you fall short. Press on!